EXCLUSIVE: The award-winning filmmakers behind upcoming Sudanese feature Blue Card have formally withdrawn from the Berlinale Co-Production Market after being refused visas by the German embassy in Cairo, which claimed they were a “migration risk”.

Director Mohammed Alomda, producer Amjad Abu Alala and writer Paula Thabet were due to travel from Egypt this week to attend the co-pro platform, which takes place as part of the European Film Market (EFM) from February 14-17.

However, on February 12, the team were informed their visa applications had been rejected, citing uncertainty over why they were travelling to Germany and whether they intended to return.

An option to take part remotely was offered by the market, which the team originally accepted but later declined before their full withdrawal.

“Why should we take part remotely when we have been made to feel unwanted by this country,” said Alala, the Cairo-based Sudanese director of Venice award-winner You Will Die At Twenty and producer of Cannes award-winner Goodbye Julia. He has also previously served as a jury member for the Berlinale’s Generation section.