The Closing of a Refinery
The Closing of a Refinery
// Director // Experimental short documentary // 2023 // ESMAD //
Climate change and the future of humankind… according to ChatGPT.
A soul-searching interview to ChatGPT about sustainability, climate change and the future of humankind in the wake of the decommission of the largest oil refinery in Northern Portugal.
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. Produced with Escola Superior de Media Artes e Design (ESMAD) as part of a master thesis in documentary film.
Festivals & Awards . Clermont-Ferrand Short Film Festival – Short Film Market picks – 2024 (France). CinemAmbiente — Environmental Film Festival – Best Short Film – 2024 (Italy). FEST – New Directors | New Films Festival – Grande Prémio Nacional – 2024 (Portugal). Curtas Vila do Conde – Take One! - 2024 (Portugal). Filmambiente – Competição Curta Metragens – 2024 (Brazil). Festival International Signes de Nuit – 2024 (France). Ekofilm – In Short Competition – 2024 (Czech Republic). BIFED - Naci Güçhan Student Award – 2024 (Turkey). CineEco Seia – Selecção oficial – 2024 (Portugal). Auguri Film Festival – Official selection – 2024 (Italy). Entre Olhares – 2024 (Portugal). Caminhos do Cinema Português – Selecção Ensaios – 2024 (Portugal). BISFF – Future Ethics – 2024 (China). Aguilar Film Festival – Dystopias section – 2024 (Spain). "L'Uomo e il Clima" diffuse Festival – 2025 (Switzerland). Moinho Cine Fest – 2025 (Portugal) – Best experimental Film. Encontros, Festival de Cinema de Viana – 2025 (Portugal) – Prémio Primeiro Olhar / Cineclubes. Artic film Festival – Finalist – 2025 (Svalbard, Norway) – Winner Best Student Production. SIEFF – International Competition section - 2025 (Seoul, Korea). Future Worlds Film Festival – 2025 (Portugal). FICAS – 2025 (Portugal). RIFE – 2025 (Bulgaria). Bistre Reke – Official Student Selection – 2025 (Serbia). Dublin Independt Film Festival – Finalist – 2025 (Ireland)
