Iranian filmmaker denied Canadian Visa

Canadian Immigration has refused a visa for an Iranian filmmaker who has been invited to judge at Toronto's 2010 Iranian Film Festival.

Alireza Amini, whose film Seven Minutes to Autumn was recently screened in Montreal theatres, was denied a Canadian Visa to attend the festival without any explanations from the Canadian Embassy in Tehran.

The 40-year-old director was invited to serve on the five-member jury of the festival, along with actors Leila Hatami and Ali Mosaffa, director Ebrahim Hatamikia and veteran Iranian filmmaker Khosrow Sinai.

“Although I have received a letter of invitation from the festival's officials, the Canadian Embassy denies me a visa,” Amini said.

Amini said he had submitted a letter of protest to the Canadian Embassy but officials have not given an explanation for their decision to refuse his visa. Amini has previously travelled to Canada on several occasions without incident.

The second edition of Toronto's Iranian Film Festival will be held from September 20 to 25, 2010.

The Canadian Visa Bureau is an independent consulting company specialising in helping people apply for Canadian immigration to the Canadian Embassy.