Movie Unbiased President Josh Welsh handed away on December 31 after a five-year battle with colon most cancers, the group introduced this night. Welsh handed peacefully at residence along with his spouse and daughter at his facet.
“We’re devastated by the lack of Josh Welsh,” stated Movie Unbiased’s Board Chair Brenda Robinson. “Josh was a tireless champion of unbiased voices, a trusted arts chief and a cherished colleague and buddy. The work we do at Movie Unbiased has by no means been extra needed and we’ll honor his legacy by persevering with to construct on the inspiration he established. Our hearts exit to his household.”
On the group, Welsh immediately oversaw all applications and operations. In response to Movie Unbiased, the nonprofit grew considerably throughout Welsh’s tenure turned President in 2012, from employees to price range to program slate, together with a greater than 100% enhance in Membership. Beneath Welsh’s management, Movie Unbiased deepened strategic partnerships with studios, NGOs and governments, and elevated worldwide attain by partnering with the State Division on the World Media Makers program.
Welsh ascended to guide the group as a co-president with Sean McManus. The duo succeeded Govt Director Daybreak Hudson, who departed to change into CEO of the Academy of Movement Image Arts & Sciences. McManus stepped down in 2013, at which era Welsh turned President.
Previous to turning into President, Welsh was chargeable for the general design, strategic planning and implementation of Movie Unbiased’s Artist Growth applications for over a decade. These included the Filmmaker Labs for administrators, screenwriters, producers and documentarians, Quick Monitor, and the Grants Program, and 4 years administering Movie Unbiased’s signature variety program, Venture Contain. Welsh designed the curriculum for all the Labs and has oversaw the collection of all Movie Unbiased Fellows. As well as, he was Movie Unbiased’s year-round trade liaison for filmmakers within the Artist Growth applications. Welsh additionally managed the Grants Program, which incorporates Donor Named Fellowships, Sloan Producers Grants and in-kind grants. In 2009-2010, he oversaw the Netflix FIND Your Voice competitors and is at present administering the collection of writers and designing the curriculum for the Fox Author’s Intensive with Fox Studios.
Previous to engaged on the Filmmaker Labs, Welsh was in Movie Unbiased’s Programming Division the place he helped choose movies for the Competition Buzz, Documentary Buzz and New Visions Screening Sequence. He labored with the Spirit Award Nominating Committees in addition to the blue-ribbon committees that decide winners of money grants on the Spirit Awards.
He was additionally the lead singer within the alt-country band Meatyard, which not too long ago accomplished an album to be launched later this 12 months.
Welsh is survived by his spouse Bonnie Gavel and daughter Isla.
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