In 1996 he made his directorial debut with the black-and-white short film "Esposados" (U.S. title: "Linked"), for which he was also the executive producer. This black comedy tells the story of a couple who are constantly fighting over money; when they find themselves winning the Christmas lottery, however, they have such different ideas about what to do next that the husband tries to get rid of his wife. "Esposados" won 40 national and international awards. It was also nominated for an Academy Award for Best Short Film in the same year, making Fresnadillo an overnight star in Spain.