Josh Welsh remembered the Spirit 2025 awards

The long -standing independent president of the film Josh Welsh was remembered at the awards of Independent Spirit Awards in 2025 on Saturday, acting of the post of President of the Robinson brand, who gave a sincere speech about the “visionary” who passed away earlier this year.

“Josh is a visionary of a guy who comes once in his life. We want his work and influence of teaching, because he is a great leader,” Robinson said on stage after a standing ovation. “He is a person of exceptional character. I talk about him very deliberately in the present time, because he is still here. He’s here. We will feel his spirit in the programs he created and the lives of filmmakers, which he always influenced in every way. Josh is only absent in the body, but the spirit who is Josh and what he means to this community is forever. “

She continued: “In my final conversation with Josh, just a few days before the new year, I told him that I was excited to have started the new season and wanted to be recognized as an example that he set what means to continue the trip and go out on the other side , And even though he didn’t hear him at the time, it’s not too late to still feel that energy. So thanks for his confession. We want to honor him. We want to honor our obligation to stay always present in our aura and so thank you for stopping with me once more. I want to invite you to join me in standing ovations for the magnificent Josh Welsh. There can never be too much praise for someone as magnificent as him. ”

The organization announced in early January that Welsh died on New Year’s Eve after a five -year -old colon cancer at the age of 62. He died calmly at home with his wife and daughter.

While working as an actor in Los Angeles, he began volunteering annually at the 1996 film Independent Spirit before officially joined the staff more than 20 years ago. In the rise to the lead, he was the first to serve as co -president with Sean McManus 2012 after Dawn Hudson resigned.

Before becoming the president, Welsh was responsible for the entire design, strategic planning and implementation of the artist’s development program for the film Independent, including filmmaker laboratories for directors, scripts, producers and documentation; Fast path; and the Grants program. He spent four years by managing the Diversity of the film Independent, Project included and operated the Grarants program. Before working at filmmakers, he was in the programming department of the film Independent.

After McManus departed in 2013, Welsh became president of the Independent film, where he directly monitored all programs and operations and increased the organization in all measuring data, including the staff, budget, program board and membership.

Under his leadership, Welsh helped the organization to deepen the strategic partnerships with studies, non -governmental organizations and governments and increased an international range with a state department on the global media manufacturer programs. According to the organization, Welsh has expanded his “dedication to promoting diversity in the film industry and amplifiers the role of the Independent film as a movie advocate.”

Welsh was also honored at a movie independent volume in January.

Spirit awards are presented on Saturday afternoon in Santa Monica. Look at the arrivals on the red carpet and the winner’s list.