Sudanese Film “Blue Card” Withdraws from Berlinale After Visa Refusals

Moatinoon
Producer Amjad Abu Alala has announced the withdrawal of the Sudanese-Egyptian-German-Saudi film Blue Card from this year’s Berlinale Co-Production Market following the rejection of visa applications submitted by key members of the filmmaking team at the German Embassy in Cairo.

In a statement, Abu Alala said the team had been honored to participate in the market with support from the German WCF fund through co-producer May Odeh. However, despite official festival invitations, complete documentation, and institutional backing from the Goethe-Institut, their applications were denied on the grounds of alleged “immigration risk.”

The statement noted that the production company had previously attended Berlinale with The Burdened, which screened in the Panorama section and later won multiple international awards, all while fully complying with travel regulations. It also highlighted the team’s prior Schengen visas and professional track record.

According to Abu Alala, the refusal raises serious concerns when professional credentials, past compliance, and institutional support are insufficient to overcome assumptions tied to migration risk. He warned that such practices risk reinforcing harmful stereotypes and unequal treatment toward artists associated with conflict-affected regions.

He emphasized that the withdrawal is “not an act of hostility but one of principle and dignity,” reaffirming respect for the festival and its co-production market team. The statement concluded that Blue Card remains committed to its international journey and looks forward to meeting audiences worldwide — including in Berlin.