Empire Skate chronicles the colorful rise and enduring influence of New York's skateboarding culture in the 1990s, examining the global phenomenon of the brand SUPREME and the skaters who breathed life into this vibrant world. Tribeca alum Josh Swade takes viewers on a journey filled with both style and substance through a pivotal moment when multiple cultural trends — skating, graffiti, hip-hop and fashion — converged to create something timeless. From the exhilarating heights of breakout success to the personal lows of fractured families and lost friends, the documentary offers rare archival footage and intimate portraits of the individuals who shaped a countercultural movement that ultimately transformed mainstream fashion and art.

Featuring legendary skater Tony Hawk, the film delivers an energetic, nostalgic exploration of 80s-90s NYC street culture. Swade strikes a delicate balance between celebrating SUPREME’s cultural impact and critically examining its corporate evolution, anchoring the narrative in the personal stories of skaters and employees whose authentic experiences ground the brand’s mythology. The documentary’s kinetic visual style, complemented by striking archival material and a pulsating soundtrack, creates an immersive experience that captures both the grit and glory of New York’s skateboarding golden age."—Jarod Neece