Born in 1953 in Trenton, Canada, Wintonick graduated from from Algonquin College in Otawa. He lectured at Concordia University in Montreal and at universities around the world. A leader in digital documentary production, web work and media literacy, Wintonick was noted for co-producing and directing (with Mark Achbar) one of the most successful documentaries in Canadian history, Manufacturing Consent: Noam Chomsky and the Media.

Wintonick was a winner of the 2006 Governor General´s Award in Visual and Media Arts, former Thinker in Residence for the Premier of South Australia, prolific award winning filmmaker, he was one of Canada's best known international documentarians. He also contributed to film magazines and advised film festivals and film institutions around the world.