Royd Anderson (born July 22, 1972, New Orleans, Louisiana ) is a Cuban American filmmaker and historian based in New Orleans, Louisiana.
He specializes in documentary films pertaining to tragic Louisiana events often overlooked by historians. In 2006, Anderson wrote and directed the documentary The Luling Ferry Disaster for his Master's thesis project in Communication at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. The film recounts the story of the worst ferry disaster in U.S. history, the MV George Prince ferry disaster, 77 fatalities. The documentary was released on the 30th anniversary of the tragedy, October 20, 2006. The success of the film generated a movement, initiated by Anderson, to build a monument in St. Charles Parish for the victims and survivors. The Luling/Destrehan Ferry Disaster Memorial Committee, led by St. Charles Parish Councilman Larry Cochran, was established on January 28, 2009, consisting of family members and friends of the deceased, St. Charles Parish Council members, and concerned citizens, along with Anderson. Through the diligent work of the bureau, a memorial was finally erected. It was unveiled, in a solemn ceremony, on October 17, 2009 at the East Bank Bridge Park in Destrehan, Louisiana. St. Charles Parish Councilman and architect Paul J. Hogan designed the monument.
In 2007, Anderson wrote and directed the documentary The Continental Grain Elevator Explosion. The film documents the deadliest grain dust explosion of the modern era, occurring on December 22, 1977 at the Continental Grain plant in Westwego, Louisiana. 36 lives were lost.
Anderson's films were honored at the Pelican d'Or Short Film Festival at Nunez Community College, winning the Best Documentary category in 2007 and 2008. His documentaries have also been accepted into The Historic New Orleans Collection, one of Louisiana's prestigious archives. On television, Anderson has been a featured guest on the Louisiana Public Broadcasting network show Louisiana: The State We're In and the WYES-TV news program Informed Sources. He is an alumnus of Loyola University New Orleans, the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, and Delgado Community College.