Dawn Wilkinson facts for kids

Wilkinson on the set of "Block Party”

Dawn Wilkinson is a talented Canadian film and television director. She lives in Los Angeles and has directed many popular shows and movies.

Growing Up and Learning

Dawn Wilkinson was born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. When she was very young, her family moved around a bit, living in Brampton and Acton, Ontario, before returning to Brampton.

She went to several schools, including SEED Alternative School and the University of Toronto. She also studied filmmaking at the Canadian Film Centre. There, she directed a short film called Girls Who Say Yes in 2000.

Her Directing Career

Wilkinson at the Locke & Key series premiere

Dawn Wilkinson learned from famous director Norman Jewison while working on the movie Hurricane. She also taught filmmaking to students at places like Trebas Institute and the Toronto Film School.

The National Film Board of Canada even asked her to teach young people about making films. She later directed short documentaries for them called Youth Visions in 2007.

Wilkinson has directed many films, including the movie "Devotion" and short films like "Instant Dread" and "Wilderness." She won an award called the WIFT and DGC Emerging Television Director Award. This led her to direct episodes for popular Canadian TV shows. These include family dramas like "Heartland" and "Murdoch Mysteries," and the teen series "Degrassi." She was even nominated for an award for her work on "Degrassi." She also directed episodes for comedies like "Sunnyside" and "Kim's Convenience."

Dawn Wilkinson is a member of important groups for directors, like the Directors Guild of Canada and the Directors Guild of America. This means she can direct big TV shows in both Canada and the United States. She has directed episodes for many well-known series, such as "Empire," "How to Get Away with Murder," "All American," "Locke & Key," "Riverdale," and "Power Book II: Ghost." She was also an executive producer and director for several episodes of the STARZ series "Step Up: High Water."

In 2022, Dawn Wilkinson directed a special film called "Block Party" for BET+. It was the first family comedy about Juneteenth, a holiday celebrating freedom. This movie was unique because it was shown in theaters, on streaming services, and on regular TV all in the same month!

Films and TV Shows She Directed

Dawn Wilkinson has directed many projects. Here are some of her notable works:

Films

Television Series (Selected)

• How to Be Indie
• Murdoch Mysteries
• Heartland
• Degrassi: The Next Generation
• Kim's Convenience
• Nashville
• Riverdale
• Dynasty
• All American
• Empire
• Locke & Key
• How to Get Away with Murder
• All American: Homecoming
• The Mysterious Benedict Society
• Step Up: High Water
• Power Book II: Ghost
• Bel-Air

Awards and Recognitions

Dawn Wilkinson has received many awards and nominations for her directing work:

• She won an award at the 55th NAACP Image Awards for Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series for Power Book II: Ghost (2024).
• She was nominated for a Children's & Family Emmy Award for her directing on The Mysterious Benedict Society (TV series) (2023).
• She received Telly Awards (Silver and Bronze) for directing episodes of "Truth Be Told" and "How to Get Away with Murder" (2022).
• She also won Communicator Awards (Gold Award of Excellence) for the same episodes (2022).
• She was nominated for a DGC Award for Best Directing for an episode of "LOCKE & KEY" (2020).
• She received the Women in Film and Television’s Directors Guild of Canada Emerging Television Director Award (2008).
• Her film "Devotion" won several awards, including the Star! Audience Award at the ReelWorld Film Festival (2005) and Best Feature at the San Francisco Urban Kids Film Festival (2005).
• She was nominated for a Directors Guild of Canada Team Award for Best Television Series: Family for Degrassi: The Next Generation.