 The film received critical acclaim when it premiered in the 2008 Sundance Film Festival and went on to win the Gen Art Acura Grand Jury Prize 2008, the Asian American International Film Festival Best Feature Film Award, the San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival Best Narrative Feature Award, and the Visionary Award at Calgary's Fairy Tales International.It was also nominated for the Tokyo Grand Prix at the Tokyo International Film Festival.From 2003 to 2013 Sanoe was contracted to be a face of Billabong Girls.