Dawn Wilkinson

Early life and education

Wilkinson was born in Montreal, Quebec. When she was six weeks old, her family moved to Brampton, a suburb of Toronto, Ontario. About a year later, they moved to the town of Acton, Ontario, and five years later they returned to Brampton. Wilkinson attended SEED Alternative School (1992), the University of Toronto (1996), the Canadian Film Centre (2000) and the Short Dramatic Film Program (2000) where she directed Girls Who Say Yes (2000).

Career

Wilkinson apprenticed with Norman Jewison on the set of Hurricane (1999 film) and has since directed, written, and produced several projects.

Wilkinson taught filmmaking at Trebas Institute (1999-2001), the Toronto Film School (2001-2008), and Humber College (2009-2010) and was recruited by the National Film Board of Canada to teach local youth about filmmaking. She went on to be the director of National Film Board short documentaries Youth Visions (2007) and co-director of Unexpected (2010).

In 2002 Wilkinson started her own production company, Afterlife Films, which has created Instant Dread (1998) and Devotion (2005).

In 2015 Wilkinson directed an episode of the TV Series of Shoot The Messenger in Toronto. She directed episode of Republic of Doyle and directed episodes of Degrassi: The Next Generation, Murdoch Mysteries and Heartland.

Wilkinson is a member of the Directors Guild of Canada, the Writers Guild of Canada. and the Directors Guild of America.

Films

Dandelions (1995) - writer, director, producer

Instant Dread (1998) - writer, director, producer

Girls Who Say Yes (2000) - director

Devotion (2005) - writer, director, producer

Unexpected (2010) - co-director

Looking for Dawn (2011) - writer, director, producer

Wilderness (2012) - director

Love Child/Revealing Rachel (in development) - writer, director, producer

The Polished Hoe (in development) - director

Shows/Series

How to Be Indie (season 2)

* How to Be Indie: How to Update Your Status

She's the Mayor

* She’s the Mayor: Gimme Shelter

Murdoch Mysteries

* Murdoch Mysteries: Lovers in a Murderous Time* Murdoch Mysteries: Unfinished Business

Switched at Birth

* Switched at Birth: Left in Charge

Make It Pop

* Make It Pop: Submission Impossible* Make It Pop: Reality Bites* Make It Pop: The Curse of Reality* Make It Pop: Talent Show Redux

Heartland

* Heartland: Reckless Abandon* Heartland: Fearless

Single Ladies

* Single Ladies: Build* Single Ladies: Pain

Odd Squad

* Odd Squad: The Perfect Lunch* Odd Squad: The Jackies

Sunnyside

* Sunnyside: Chain Gang* Sunnyside: Clowns

Degrassi: The Next Generation

* Power To The People* Dig Me Out* Better Man* The World I Know

Republic of Doyle

* Republic of Doyle: Young Guns

Awards and Distinctions

Women in Film and Television’s Directors Guild of Canada Emerging Television Director Award (2008)

Best Screenplay Award from African American Women in Cinema Film Festival for Love Child (2004)

Platinum Remi Award for Dramatic Original Independent Short for Wilderness (2012)

The Tony Stoltz Completion Award for Devotion (2005)

Star! Audience Award at the ReelWorld Film Festival in Toronto for Devotion (2005)

Best Feature at the San Francisco Urban Kids Film Festival for Devotion (2005)

Nominated for a Directors Guild of Canada Award Team Award for Best Television Series: Family for Degrassi: The Next Generation.