HBO ACQUIRES WORLDWIDE RIGHTS TO DOCUMENTARY "UNITED SKATES," A FILM BY DYANA WINKLER AND TINA BROWN; JOHN LEGEND IS AN EXECUTIVE PRODUCER OF THE TRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL AUDIENCE AWARD WINNER

NEW YORK, Sept. 20, 2018 - HBO Documentary Films has acquired worldwide TV and film rights to UNITED SKATES. Directed and produced by Dyana Winkler and Tina Brown, the film received the Documentary Audience Award at this year's Tribeca Film Festival, and will debut on HBO in 2019. John Legend is an executive producer of the documentary feature, which was produced by Sweet Ninja Films in association with LA Media Fund, Get Lifted Film Co., Secret Sauce Media and Naked Edge Films.

As America's last standing roller rinks are threatened with closure, UNITED SKATES spotlights a community of thousands who fight in a racially charged environment to save the underground African-American subculture of roller skating, which has been overlooked by the mainstream for generations, while giving rise to great musical talents.

The documentary will screen this fall in Los Angeles, New York, Washington, D.C., Chicago and London, among other locations, supported by a robust outreach campaign.

UNITED SKATES was directed and produced by Dyana Winkler and Tina Brown; executive producers Jeffrey Soros, Simon Horsman, Julie Parker Benello, Daniel Chalfen, Jim Butterworth, Brenda Robinson, Tina Brown, John Legend, Mike Jackson, Ty Stiklorius; editor, Katharine Garrison; consulting producers, Laurens Grant, Dolly Turner, Taj Paxton; co-executive producers, Josh Alexander, Maida Lynn, Nion McEvoy, Johnny Nunez; director of photography, Matt Peterson, A.C.S; original music by Jongnic Bontemps, Jim Winkler.