In the late 80s and early 90s, the streets of downtown Manhattan were the site of a collision between two vibrant subcultures: skateboarding and hip hop.

Narrated by Zoo York co-founder Eli Gesner with an original score by legendary hip-hop producer Large Professor (Nas, A Tribe Called Quest), ALL THE STREETS ARE SILENT brings to life the magic of the time period and the convergence that created a style and visual language that would have an outsized and enduring cultural effect. From the DJ booths and dance floors of the Mars nightclub to the founding of brands like Supreme, this convergence would lay the foundation for modern street style. PARIS IS BURNING meets Larry Clark‘s KIDS, ALL THE STREETS ARE SILENT is a love letter to New York–examining race, society, fashion, and street culture.

“If PARIS IS BURNING and KIDS had a baby, you’d have this documentary love letter to New York—examining race, society, fashion and street culture—and full of archival footage featuring legendary characters and figures from the downtown scene.” (Tribeca Film Festival)

“The film excels when it harnesses the wistful thrill of a bygone era, reminding us of a rich, creative past that deserves ample recognition…Revels in fuzzy, intimate home videos from the period, courtesy of the narrator, Eli Gesner, who spent much of his youth filming the scene on his camcorder. There are shots of skaters dodging traffic at Astor Place or partying at the now defunct hip-hop nexus Club Mars. At one point, a young Jay-Z appears, rapping at lightning speed over a breakbeat. The film immerses us in this world, rendering a loving, tender homage to the city’s street culture before it went global.” (New York Times)

“The film excels when it harnesses the wistful thrill of a bygone era, reminding us of a rich, creative past that deserves ample recognition.” (Film Threat)

Saturday, August 28 Final Screening!
Doors 2:30 pm | Movie 3:00 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.
Advance tickets $15 | $15 at the door

ALL THE STREETS ARE SILENT: THE CONVERGENCE OF HIP HOP AND SKATEBOARDING (1987-1997) (Jeremy Elkin, 2021 / 14A / 89 mins) In the late 1980s and early 1990s, skateboarding and hip-hop culture collide in downtown Manhattan. Archival footage from the era showcases the fusion of these two forms of expression.