Paul Saintillan studied literature and philosophy before joining the directing department at La Fémis. His graduation film, Margot mise à nu, was selected for several festivals, including Premiers Plans in 2002. Other shorts followed, and were broadcast on Arte and Canal+, including La Piqûre, whose screenplay was read in 2009, before being screened two years later in the Plans Suivants programme and Cauchemar du promeneur solitaire, selected in the French Short Films category in 2006.