I’m saddened to listen to of the passing of Josh Welsh, the longtime president of Movie Unbiased, and on behalf of all of us at RogerEbert.com we provide our deepest condolences to his spouse Bonnie and his daughter Isla. He was solely 62 years outdated when he handed away on New 12 months’s Eve, December 31, 2024, after a five-year struggle with colon most cancers.
Throughout his 21 yr tenure with Movie Unbiased, Josh was keen about giving unbiased filmmakers a a lot wanted enhance by grants and particular applications emphasizing each training and hands-on filmmaking expertise. I, and my late husband Roger, collaborated with Josh when Roger was requested over a number of years to emcee what was then referred to as the Unbiased Spirit Awards.
Josh was universally praised for making vital enhancements to the group. I additionally obtained to see Josh’s dedication to amplifying the voices of unbiased filmmakers by Challenge Contain when he requested me to chair its twenty fifth Anniversary the place we celebrated Effie T. Brown, Jon M. Chu, Cherien Dabis and Charles D. King. The mission of Challenge Contain was to supply 30 up-and-coming movie professionals from under-represented communities the chance to hone their abilities and acquire trade entry. It was this dedication to inclusion that garnered my biggest admiration.
Movie Unbiased Board of Administrators head Brenda Robinson was laudatory in her reward of Josh and resolved in her willpower to hold on the nice work of the group. She informed me:
“Presently, our ideas are with Josh’s household and family members. We’re profoundly grateful for his three many years of service to Movie Unbiased, together with his extraordinary tenure as President. Josh remodeled the group into a world chief in filmmaker training and tirelessly championed unbiased voices. His passing is a horrible loss, however his legacy is enduring, and we’re assured that the group he constructed will proceed to thrive and encourage.”
Josh Welsh obtained a Ph.D. in philosophy from Johns Hopkins College and a BA in philosophy from Kenyon School. He then began working as an actor in Los Angeles, earlier than volunteering for the annual Movie Unbiased Spirit Awards in 1996. Later, he formally joined the employees.
Previous to turning into co-president in 2012 alongside Sean McManus (then sole president in 2013), Welsh oversaw the general design, strategic planning, and implementation of Movie Unbiased’s Artists Growth applications. He was a tireless ambassador for the group, serving on competition juries and talking at movie colleges. His experience in increasing the funds, programming, and employees of Movie Unbiased was stated to lead to a greater than 100% improve in membership.
On stage, at Movie Unbiased occasions, Josh got here throughout clean and relaxed, so I used to be shocked when he informed me how nervous he was earlier than strolling on. He had expertise each from his earlier appearing and his stint with a band. I used to be personally completely happy to see him out and about at one of many final large Movie Unbiased occasions a couple of months in the past after we thought his most cancers was in remission. He greeted everybody with an enormous smile and he shared with us his pleasure for future occasions. It jogged my memory of Roger’s sense of objective and the way necessary it’s to keep up it for so long as we will. Bless you for that braveness Josh.
Gregory Nava, director and co-founder of Movie Unbiased (then referred to as IFP West), stated:
“Welsh was a strong chief at a vital time within the historical past of Movie Unbiased. As one of many founders of Movie Unbiased I used to be at all times deeply impressed along with his power and imaginative and prescient in rising the group. He took unbiased filmmaking worldwide with the International Media Makers program, planting the seed of unbiased filmmaking throughout the globe. He shall be missed however his legacy will stay on within the a whole bunch of filmmakers each right here and all around the world that he impressed.”
Outdoors of his work at Movie Unbiased, Welsh was the lead singer of the alt-country band Meatyard, which can launch a brand new album later this yr. In an Instagram put up, the band paid tribute to Welsh:
“Pricey buddies, Josh put down his guitar and left to sing with the angels on the final day of 2024. With damaged hearts, we have a good time his great life power; his generosity and his love of connection. We’ll carry him in our hearts endlessly.”
