It is with a heavy heart that we share the passing of our dear President, Josh Welsh, who died peacefully at home on December 31, 2024, surrounded by his wife and daughter after a courageous five-year battle with colon cancer.

Josh’s loss is deeply felt across the entire Film Independent family. We have lost not only an extraordinary leader but also a true friend. His passion and generosity inspired us all, and his unwavering dedication to our mission was an honor to witness. To know him, to work beside him, and, most of all, to share the simple joy of a good talk about movies over donuts, was a privilege. He will forever be a part of who we are and the work we do.

“We are devastated by the loss of Josh Welsh,” said Film Independent’s Board Chair Brenda Robinson. “Josh was a tireless champion of independent voices, a trusted arts leader and a cherished colleague and friend. The work we do at Film Independent has never been more necessary and we will honor his legacy by continuing to build on the foundation he established. Our hearts go out to his family.”

Josh’s journey with Film Independent began in 1996 as a volunteer at the Spirit Awards before officially joining the team nearly 30 years ago. Before becoming President, Josh helped create Film Independent’s Artist Development programs and oversaw them for over a decade. He became President of Film Independent in 2012, and the organization blossomed, growing the staff, budget, programming slate, and membership. He also increased out international reach by partnering with the U.S. Department of State on the Global Media Makers Program. His leadership was instrumental in shaping Film Independent into the vibrant, global champion of independent storytelling that we are so proud to be part of today.

Josh’s talents extended far beyond our walls. He was a gifted musician, and as the lead singer of the alt-country band Meatyard, he recently completed an album set to be released later this year—a testament to his boundless creativity and love for the arts. An avid hiker, Josh loved to spend time in the great outdoors and wasn’t shy about his love for donuts, too.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Bonnie Gavel, and their daughter, Isla Welsh. The death was announced in a post from his wife that stated, “Dear friends, Josh put down his guitar and left to sing with the angels on the last day of 2024. With broken hearts, we celebrate his tremendous life force; his generosity and his love of connection. We will carry him in our hearts forever.”

A GoFundMe has been set up by friends of the family to help cover “funds to support Isla’s education and future expenses.”

As we grieve this profound loss, we also want to take a moment to thank you—our community—for your support and confidence in all of us. Josh poured his heart into this work for decades, and we are committed to celebrating and honoring his legacy by continuing to uplift independent and unique voices through film. We welcome you to share your stories and experiences with Josh and we’ll be sharing more with you soon.