Born in Munich, Germany and raised in the South of France, Nicolas Wendl discovered film early, two of his teenage-made shorts screening at Festivals in 2008 and 2009. This early recognition encouraged Wendl to pursue film in the United States at Chapman University's Dodge College, from which he graduated with Honors and a BFA in Film Production. During his time at university, Wendl produced two acclaimed shorts, "How They Smiled" (2011) and "From the Woods" (2013), both starring Richard Burgi and screening at festivals across the country and winning the Coney Island Film Festival and the Cape Fear International Film Festival.