Film Independent Names New Co-Presidents

Film Independent, which puts together the LA Film Festival as well as the annual Spirit Awards, announced today they were taking the usual step of naming two presidents of their organization. Film Independent senior director Sean McManus and director of artist development Josh Welsh were both promoted and will help run the organization jointly. The pair are taking over for Dawn Hudson, who left Film Independent in June to become the CEO of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences.

McManus has been with Film Independent since 1998, as has worked as senior director for the past six years. Welsh, meanwhile, has been running the organization’s various labs and development programs for the past decade. He also, according to the press release, moonlights in an alt-country band called Meatyard. They have an artsy video featuring sad mannequins if you’re curious.

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