If you're attending Buffalo Screams Horror Film Festival from out of town, here is some basic information.  Most likely, you've booked a discounted room at our official hotel, the Courtyard Buffalo Amherst, 4100 Sheridan Drive, (716) 626-2300.  Sheridan Drive is a busy commercial area with a lot of car dealerships and several restaurants.  It's right next to a thruway ramp, so make sure you don't mistake that ramp for its driveway!  The Courtyard is a decent business hotel, but it does not have a bar, and the lobby will be under renovation during the festival.  Anyone who booked a room in the Buffalo Screams block is entitled to a continental breakfast.  Here's the website link:

http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/bufcy-courtyard-buffalo-amherst/ 

The hotel is a 5-minute drive from our venue, the Screening Room Cinema Cafe, located at 3131 Sheridan Drive, in the Northtown Plaza.  The Northtown is an ENORMOUS plaza, and not terribly attractive - it's really spread out.  And the Screening Room is hard to find.  Here's my advice when driving from the hotel: you have almost reached the Northtrown Plaza when you reach the traffic light intersecting with Baily Avenue.  Make a left hand turn; TOM'S RESTAURANT is at the corner of the Northtown Plaza.  Continue along Baily a few driveways, until you see the big "3131" address on the business building to your right; you can make a turn into that driveway or the next one.  If you're driving straight toward the "3131" address, the Screening Room will be to your left.  It does not have a conventional movie theater marquee, but a vinyl banner above the door.  Programming begins at 5:00 pm, and the doors open sometime between 4:00 pm and 4:30 pm.

Depending on when you enter the building, you may see a table set up in the main hallway from which we're selling tickets and handing out VIP badges; if not, you'll find them inside.  The central room of the Screening Room is the theater, ticket booth, projection booth, and popcorn stand all in one!  Beer and wine are available, and a small side room will be set up as a dealer room for our guests - Melantha Blackthorne, Paige Davis, Rod Durick, and Roy Frumkes.  Any filmmakers whose work is being screened are welcome to sell DVDs from our community table.  A number of tables will be set up in the side room; if you wish, you can bring food in there top eat, or you can ahve it delievred.  Besides Tom's Restaurant (perfect for our friends from Astoria!), there's an Indian restuarant and an Italian restaurant (My Tomato Pie, our sponsor) in the plaza, but they're all a hike, so I recommend driving.

Here's the link to the Screening Room's website:

http://www.screeningroom.net/ 

There are six of us on the Buffalo Screams board of directors, plus two volunteers, and we all want to make sure you have a good time, so don't hesitate to ask any of us for directions or recommendations.  The awards dinner on Sunday will also be held at the Screening Room.  Once program ends at 6:00 pm, we'll clear the room so we can set up the tables, and we'll try to readmit people by 7:00 pm for a 7:30 dinner.  My Tomato Pie is catering the event,a nd the spread will include gourmet pizzas, stuffed cabbage,a nd assorted finger foods - it was a delicious selection last year. Dinner comes with one adult drink; we need confirmation orders by 2:00 pm Sunday.  The cost is $17.00 per head (including nominees), dress is casual, and having a good time is mandatory!  The awards will begin after dinner, sometime between 8:30 and 9:00 pm.  We encourage everyone to take photos!

Thank you for joining us!