New Zealand film maker Valerie Reid's latest documentary, Sand Dancer, about the life of sand artist Peter Donnelly, has received two awards - The Audience Choice Award at the Golden Horse Film Festival's 7th International Digital Shorts Competition in Taipei and the Excellence in Documentary Film Making Award at the Magma Film Festival in Rotorua.New Zealand film maker Valerie Reid's latest documentary, Sand Dancer, about the life of sand artist Peter Donnelly, has received two awards - The Audience Choice Award at the Golden Horse Film Festival's 7th International Digital Shorts Competition in Taipei and the Excellence in Documentary Film Making Award at the Magma Film Festival in Rotorua.A record 717 works worldwide were submitted this year at The Golden Horse in Taipei. Sand Dancer was a nominee with 43 shorts at the Golden Horse Festival. The film was also the only New Zealand film to be selected after being spotted at the short film corner in Cannes. The Golden Horse Festival is regarded as the Asian equivalent of the Oscars.

Director Valerie Reid: "Winning The Magma Festival prize here in New Zealand for 'Excellence in Documentary Film Making' was a huge honour. I now feel I am on the right track with my own style of filmmaking and winning the Audience Choice Award in Taipei confirms that Sand Dancer crosses all languages and cultures.

"I think that audiences and film makers alike have enjoyed Sand Dancer because the film's message of following your heart applies to us all."

Sand Dancer is Valerie Reid's fifth short.

You can see Sand Dancer at Hagley Open Stage in Christchurch on Dec 14, The Arts House Rotorua next month and The Wet West Int Film Fest Holititka - Jan 2007. A longer version of Sand Dancer is to be shot on film and starts production next year.