JC is a young Filipino man forced to take over a remote motel in the wilderness of the northern USA, owned by his tyrant father. Assumed to be providing shelter to illegal immigrants on their way to Canada, JC and the guests soon discover the motel is a home to a dark and ancient spirit. As the blizzard traps the guests, their desperate fight for survival begins.

The 2nd feature from Bradley Liew, a Philippine-based Malaysian director of a critical hit debut Singing in the Graveyard, Motel Acacia is an ambitious horror-tale combining Filipino folklore of tree demon with current issue of anti-immigration policies of USA. JC is torn between seeking acceptance from his estranged right-wing father and doing the right thing for the unfortunate immigrants. In the end, we see the true evil lies not in the form of a monster but in a greedy human nature. A coproduction between several countries in multiple continents, Motel Acacia is also an ex-official selection of BIFAN’s NAFF It Project. (Jongsuk Thomas NAM)