In 2012, Beasts of the Southern Wild was filmed in Louisiana. Together with a small professional crew, dozens of local, Louisiana artists came together to create this work of art. They called themselves Court 13.

Off the back of the 4 Academy Awards nominations the film received in 2013, along with numerous other accolades including the Caméra d’Or at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival and the Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival, Beast’s writer and director Benh Zeitlin founded the Court 13 Arts organization to give back to & forge space for Louisiana artists like those who were instrumental in making his film.

Through cultural, educational, and mentorship programs, artist residencies, festivals, events, and the provision of affordable studios for artists who would otherwise not have access to fabrication space, we have been dedicated to the guiding principal of giving back through passion driven hard work since the organization’s official inception in 2015.

Court 13 Arts is a New Orleans based 501(c)3 nonprofit. Our mission is to forge creative spaces where artists and filmmakers can thrive. 

Through education and public programming, our vision is to build a culture of community-based art and filmmaking that helps develop Louisiana talent and anchors them here for the long-term benefit of the Gulf South. Through our unique story in the national and international film industry, we serve as a pipeline for Louisiana-based artists to build sustainable careers and create profound works of art.