Josh Welsh, president of Movie Unbiased, died December 31, 2024, representatives at Movie Unbiased confirmed Wednesday night. He died peacefully along with his spouse and daughter at dwelling following a brave five-year battle with colon most cancers.
In a January 1 publish on Welsh’s Instagram, his mates wrote: “Pricey mates, Josh put down his guitar and left to sing with the angels on the final day of 2024. With damaged hearts, we rejoice his super life power; his generosity and his love of connection. We’ll carry him in our hearts endlessly.”
As president of Movie Unbiased, Welsh oversaw all packages and operations of the nonprofit. Movie Unbiased grew considerably beneath Welsh’s oversight, with membership greater than doubling.
Welsh labored at Movie Unbiased for 21 years however his involvement started in 1996, when he was a younger actor who started volunteering yearly on the Movie Unbiased Spirit Awards.
As president of Movie Unbiased since 2012, he oversaw all packages and operations for the nonprofit. The group grew its employees, price range, programming slate, and membership beneath his watch and deepened its strategic partnerships. He expanded the group’s dedication to selling variety within the movie business and amplified Movie Unbiased’s function as an advocate for filmmakers.
Previous to turning into president, Welsh was accountable for the general design, strategic planning and implementation of Movie Unbiased’s Artist Growth packages for over a decade. He spoke often at movie faculties and served on quite a few competition juries. Welsh was additionally the lead singer within the alt-country band Meatyard, which lately accomplished an album that might be launched later this yr.
“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 essential and we are going to honor his legacy by persevering with to construct on the muse he established. Our hearts exit to his household.”
He’s survived by his spouse Bonnie Gavel and daughter Isla Welsh.