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Filmmaker, author and cultural historian Glen Pitre is the recipient of the 2024 James William Rivers Prize in Louisiana Studies, the �鶹ҹ��’s Center for Louisiana Studies recently announced.

The Rivers Prize honors outstanding contributions to the study and preservation of the state’s rich history and culture, according to a press release from the center.

Pitre, who is from Cut Off, La., earned the Rivers Prize for his five-decade career documenting, interpreting and celebrating Louisiana’s complex cultural landscapes. Pitre is perhaps best known for his internationally acclaimed film “Belizaire the Cajun,” which was released in 1986.

Pitre's career began in 1975, while he was a student at Harvard University. Pitre founded Côte Blanche Productions, launching a career that has included critically acclaimed films, radio programs, documentary productions, museum exhibits, oral histories and literary works.

Pitre has also contributed to Louisiana scholarship in areas such as museum curation, historical documentation and cultural advocacy. His projects range from preserving indigenous and Creole histories to restoring historic architecture.

Established in 1973, the is �鶹ҹ��’s oldest research center. Its research division houses the Archive of Cajun and Creole Folklore, the largest collection of audiovisual materials related to the traditional cultures of southwestern Louisiana. The center also oversees the �鶹ҹ�� Press. 

Learn more about the center’s and .

Photo caption: �鶹ҹ��’s Center for Louisiana Studies has honored Glen Pitre with the James William Rivers Prize in Louisiana Studies for his work documenting, interpreting and celebrating Louisiana culture and history. Pitre is perhaps best known for his internationally acclaimed film “Belizaire the Cajun.” Submitted photo