Penelope is a darkly comedic short about an undead misfit with “female Beetlejuice” energy who wakes up on her 666th day with one job: build an army of the undead to make her father proud. But after sleeping through most of her mission, she scrambles to recruit anyone she can—an angry neighbor, a pair of stoners, and a morose boy next door she just might have a crush on. When her father arrives, unimpressed with her ragtag recruits, Penelope is forced to face the crushing weight of his expectations. Equal parts creepy and coming of age, Penelope explores the absurd lengths we go to for approval—and the universal struggle of never feeling good enough.

Director: Fiona Rene