DAWN WILKINSON was born in Montreal and raised in Toronto and is a graduate of the University of Toronto and the Canadian Film Centre’s Director's Lab and Short Dramatic Film Program. Dawn directed the award-winning feature film DEVOTION and shorts INSTANT DREAD, DANDELIONS, WILDERNESS, and GIRLS WHO SAY YES. Since being awarded the WIFT and DGC Emerging Television Director Award she has directed many of Canada's top drama series including HEARTLAND, MURDOCH MYSTERIES, and DEGRASSI, which was nominated for a DGC AWARD for Best Family TV Series, and comedies SUNNYSIDE and KIM’S CONVENIENCE, also nominated for a Best Directing DGC Award. Since then Dawn has directed numerous US Network productions including THE RESIDENT, SWITCHED AT BIRTH, REIGN, GREENLEAF, BEYOND, DYNASTY, THE GOOD DOCTOR, THE GIFTED, ROSWELL NEW MEXICO and multiple episodes of NASHVILLE, RIVERDALE, EMPIRE, ALL AMERICAN and LOCKE & KEY.  “Dissection” Dawn’s episode of LOCKE & KEY was nominated for a Best Directing DGC Award in 2020. Also in 2020, Dawn directed an episode of HOW TO GET AWAY WITH MURDER with Viola Davis and TRUTH BE TOLD starring Academy Award winner Octavia Spencer. Dawn also received rave reviews for Hallmark’s TV movie “A NASHVILLE CHRISTMAS CAROL” which was filmed during the height of the global pandemic. Dawn is currently the Executive Producing Director on the Starz series STEP UP and is directing five episodes for Season 3. 

Speaking on: Director Superpanel: a vision for the future; From the Director's Chair: Dawn Wilkinson, Mina Shum, Melanie Orr