A Montreal filmmaker is trying to get part of an art exhibit back from the Canadian Border Services Agency.

It was confiscated after it arrived at Trudeau Airport from Iran, and Sadaf Foroughi now has less than two weeks to get it back before it's destroyed.

The item in question is a traditional Iranian peep box she modified to showcase her short film.

She worked on it for two years, and now she fears it's lost.

“It’s sad to say because it's like my children when I'm working on a project,” she said.

Foroughi had the tin box shipped from Iran. But when it arrived in Canada, it didn't make it through customs.

“Twenty days ago I went to customs to take it home here in Canada and they told me that I can't,” she explained.

The reason for that is Canada’s relationship with Iran. After suspending relations in 2012, Canada extended sanctions to include imports and exports from Iran.

But Foroughi's lawyer says those imports aren't supposed to include personal items.

“It's illegal to retain that kind of product in light of the regulations that are in place. Because it's a personal effect and it's not for commercial purposes,” said Vincent Valai.

Foreign Affairs Canada wouldn't comment on the specific case, but sent a statement saying it stands by its sanctions.

"We can confirm that the sanctions on Iran contain an exemption for the import and export of personal effects. Whether or not a specific item counts as an exemption to our sanctions is subject to legal interpretation."

The filmmaker received a grant from the Canadian council for the arts, and the group sent a letter to border services on her behalf saying it only supports artistic and personal creations, not commercial ones.

The border services agency is also keeping tight lipped. It says it acted within its legal jurisdiction.

Right now, Foroughi's piece is in a storage area for 30 days. At $105 per day, she’s now spent $2,000 on an item she can’t access.

She and her lawyer were told that Foreign Affairs is reviewing the matter, and to wait for a response.

If the government doesn't intervene, her peep box will be destroyed in 10 days.

She still hopes to showcase her piece in Montreal this year.