The Closing of a Refinery
A soul-searching conversation with ChatGPT about sustainability, the green energy transition, and the future of humankind, following the decommission of the largest oil refinery in Northern Portugal.
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Vasco MonteiroDirector
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Vasco MonteiroProducer
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ChatGPTKey Cast
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Project Type:Documentary, Experimental, Short, Student
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Genres:Documentary, non-fiction
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Runtime:16 minutes 8 seconds
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Completion Date:June 15, 2023
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Country of Origin:Portugal
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Country of Filming:Portugal
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Language:English
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Shooting Format:Digital
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Aspect Ratio:16:09
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Film Color:Color
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First-time Filmmaker:No
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Student Project:Yes - ESMAD
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Clermont-Ferrand Short Film FestivalCleremont-Ferrand
France
February 5, 2024
Short Market Picks -
CinemAmbiente – Environmental Film FestivalTurin
Italy
June 7, 2024
Italian -
FEST – New Directors | New Films FestivalEspinho
Portugal
June 30, 2024
Portuguese -
Curtas Vila do Conde - International Film FestivalVila do Conde
Portugal -
FilmambienteRio de Janeiro
Brazil
South America -
Festival International Signes de NuitParis
France
October 3, 2024 -
EkofilmBrno
Czech Republic
October 4, 2024
Czech Republic -
BIFEDBozcaada
Turkey
October 12, 2024
Turkey -
CineEcoSeia
Portugal
October 15, 2024 -
Auguri Film FestivalAuguri
Italy -
Entre OlharesBarreiro
Portugal
November 2, 2024 -
Caminhos do Cinema PortuguêsCoimbra
Portugal
November 20, 2024 -
Beijing International Short FilmBeijing
China
Asian
Future ethics -
Aguilar Film FestivalAguilar
Spain
Spanish
DYSTOPIAS -
"L'Uomo e il Clima"Lugano
Switzerland
January 22, 2025
Swiss -
Moinho Cine FestMatosinhos
Portugal
Best Experimental Film -
Encontros - Festival de Cinema de VianaViana do Castelo
Portugal
May 16, 2025
Prémio Primeiro Olhar / Cineclubes -
Artic film FestivalSvalbard
Denmark
May 17, 2025
Denmark
Best Student Production
Vasco Monteiro is a Portuguese filmmaker and scriptwriter. Most of his career has been devoted to crafting narratives in the realm of fiction, earning several awards and recognition for his writing. He recently entered new territory, taking his storytelling craft to the wonderful world of documentary film. “The Closing of a Refinery” marks his first significant foray as a documentary filmmaker.
The Closing of a Refinery is an attempt to address the economic, environmental and social consequences of the green energy politics. The use of an AI text generative program, that parrots our human ideas, holds a mirror that highlights the sterile simplicity we often use in our discourse about climate change and sustainability. Instead of providing answers, this film aim’s to incite engagement with the existential challenge posed by our current climate crisis.