Film Independent President Josh Welch died on December 31 after a five-year battle with colon cancer, the organization announced this evening. The Welshman died peacefully at home with his wife and daughter by his side.
“We are devastated by the loss of Josh Welch,” said Brenda Robinson, Chairman of the Film Independent Board of Directors. “Josh was a tireless champion of independent voices, a trusted artistic leader, colleague and dear friend. The work we do at Film Independent has never been more important, and we will honor his legacy by continuing to build on the foundation he established. Our thoughts are with his family “.
At the organization, Welch directly supervised all programs and operations. According to Film Independent, the nonprofit grew significantly during Wells' tenure as president in 2012, from staffing to budget and program roster, including a more than 100% increase in membership. Under Welsh's leadership, Film Independent has deepened strategic partnerships with studios, NGOs and governments, and increased international reach by partnering with the State Department on the Global Media Makers program.
Wells stepped up to lead the organization as co-president with Sean McManus. The duo succeeds CEO Don Hudson, who left to become CEO of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. McManus stepped down in 2013, at which time Wells became president.
Prior to becoming President, Welsh was responsible for the overall design, strategic planning and implementation of Film Independent's artist development programs for more than a decade. These programs included Filmmaker Labs for directors, screenwriters, producers, and documentarians, the Fast Track program, a grants program, and four years of running Film Independent's signature diversity program, Project Involve. Welch designed the curriculum for all labs and oversaw the selection of all Independent Film Fellows. Additionally, he was Film Independent's year-round industry liaison for filmmakers in artist development programs. Welch also managed the grants program, which includes donor fellowships, Sloan producer grants, and in-kind grants. In 2009-2010, he moderated the Netflix FIND Your Voice competition and currently manages book selection and curriculum design for the Fox Writer's Intensive with Fox Studios.
Prior to his work at Filmmaker Labs, Welsh worked in programming at Film Independent where he helped select films for the Buzz Festival, documentaries, and New Visions screening series. He has worked with the Spirit Award nomination committees as well as the Blue Ribbon committees that determine the Spirit Awards cash grant winners.
He was also the lead singer of the band Meatyard, which recently completed an album to be released later this year.
Wells is survived by his wife, Bonnie Gavelle, and his daughter, Isla.
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