David Nicholas Wilkinson's early career in the entertainment industry began in 1969 with a TV commercial, followed by his first acting role as Ronnie Winslow in "The Winslow Boy" alongside Kenneth More and later Richard Todd. He then transitioned to producing, with his first film as a producer being the BBC's "To The Lighthouse", a groundbreaking independent production that was nominated for a television BAFTA. Wilkinson jokes that it has been "downhill from there ever since".
As the founder, owner, and director of Guerilla Films, Wilkinson has been involved in various sectors of the entertainment industry, making him unique in the UK. His film "Getting Away With Murder(s)" was voted the 17th best film of 2021 by The Guardian, and his documentary was the highest-rated on that list.
Wilkinson has received numerous awards and nominations for his work, including an honorary doctorate from the University of Bradford in 2024. His films have won awards at the Sundance Film Festival, DocFest, the Galway Film Fleadh, and the Grierson Awards, among others. In 2023, he was awarded the Stirling Award for Achievement in Documentary by the Central Scotland Documentary Festival and the University of Stirling.
Guerilla Films has a strong commitment to British and Irish productions, specialising in films that other distributors deemed difficult and un-commercial. Since 1999, the company has released only British and Irish productions, with a focus on films that showcase the talents of British and Irish actors, including Anthony Hopkins, Alan Bates, Gary Oldman, and many more.
In addition to his work in film, Wilkinson is also a writer, having co-written the book "Ronald Harwood's Adaptations" and appearing twice on BBC Radio 4's Today Programme as an expert on the British film industry.
