Iranian film director Rokhsareh Ghaemmaghami has been granted a visa by Immigration NZ after initially being denied.

Immigration NZ has backed down, granting a visitor visa to an award-winning Iranian film director after calls for her initial denial to be reconsidered.

Rokhsareh Ghaemmaghami​, director of the documentary Sonita​, planned to travel to New Zealand to attend the screening of her film at the Documentary Edge Film Festival next month. She was denied a visitor visa, considered by immigration officials a potential 'overstayer'.

In a statement this morning, Immigration NZ area manager Michael Carley said a visitor visa had been approved after a review of the application, and receipt of further information from Ghaemmaghami​.

Executive Director of the Documentary Edge Film Festival, Dan Shanan.

Immigration NZ have apologised to for the inconvenience caused to Ghaemmaghami.

​Yesterday, film festival director Dan Shanan​ said New Zealand's reputation was damaged by the decision to deny Ghaemmaghami's​ visa.

​More to come.



- Stuff