BUFFALO, N.Y. -- The unlikely pairing of Academy Award-winning director Ben Proudfoot and Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen is bringing a quintessential Buffalo story to HBO Max.
The documentary short "The Buffalo Miracle," directed by Proudfoot and executive-produced by Allen and his production company Out of Pocket Studios, is set to premiere on the streaming service on Nov. 24. It depicts the true story of Buffalo fast-food workers who opened their doors to strangers and neighbors as places of refuge during the historic Christmas-week blizzard of 2022.
A once-in-a-generation storm that brought hurricane-force winds of up to 80 mph, 15-foot-high snowdrifts and wind chill temperatures around 30 below zero, the storm was a monster that meant whiteout conditions and loss of power and access to infrastructure across the region.
The trailer plays on Buffalo's nickname as the "City of Good Neighbors," and highlights how common love for the Bills brings the whole town together, especially in December when the team is preparing for a playoff run. Allen led the Bills to a 13-3 record in 2022, but the Bills were on the road for a Week 16 matchup against the Chicago Bears during the blizzard's peak.
Allen has become increasingly involved in film and production work in recent years. In addition to his frequent commercial work, he launched Out of Pocket Studios over the summer. The company already produces multiple programs for Paramount in addition to the upcoming documentary.
Proudfoot is a two-time Oscar winner for the documentary shorts "The Queen of Basketball" and "The Last Repair Shop."
The film will premiere the week of Thanksgiving, when Allen and the Bills will host Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs at Highmark Stadium for a primetime AFC showdown.