Buffalo Bills Mafia-focused documentary in the works

EXCLUSIVE: Buffalo Bills fans will be the subject of the feature-length documentary Just one more before I die from co-directors Addison Henderson (The Forgotten City, Givers of Death) and Kevin Polowy (Rise, fall, In the shadow of Beirut).

Production on the indie project, created by executive producer Clayton Polowy, is set to begin this fall. Stephen Gerard Kelly (Shadow of Beirut) will act as director of photography.

Just one more before I die follows Bills Mafia through the eyes of its most dedicated members, showcasing the seemingly endless heartbreak (Wide Right, Music City Miracle, 17-year playoff drought, 13 Seconds, etc.) yet infinite hope of a championship-hungry city that, like its team, has always been an underdog, whether it’s its small market, its hard-pressed working class, or its brutal, unforgiving winter weather. Its rabid fan base is also known for creating viral videos and raising millions of dollars for countless charitable causes.

“Why do we keep doing this to ourselves? As a die-hard Bills fan — as if there is any other kind of fan — I ask myself that question at the inevitably painful, if not downright torturous, conclusion of each season,” Buffalo native Kevin Polowy said in a statement to Deadline.

“Are the highs worth the lows? Will they ever win a title, or will I go to the grave like my beloved but tormented father, never having experienced the glory of a Super Bowl victory? With this documentary, we aim to explore what continues to fuel #BillsMafia to remain as loyal as we have been through all the pain and misery — and in turn, paint a broader, more universal picture of what fuels unwavering sports fans of all stripes,” he added.

“The Bills are the lifeblood of Buffalo. The word that defines my hometown is ‘resilient.’ As a Buffalonian, it runs through our veins,” Henderson said. “We’ve been through great times and terrible times. But how do we keep going in the face of despair? In this documentary, we want to explore fandom and specifically what it means to be not just a Bills fan, but a sports fan in general. There will only be one lucky franchise at the end of every year. But what if it’s never us? Or you, Lions fans or Browns fans or Vikings fans? Will all the tears have been worth it?”