BATON ROUGE, La. – A program that provides filmmaker grants to promote Louisiana’s French culture is the latest recipient of an award from Louisiana’s Entertainment Development Fund. #CreateLouisiana will receive $36,500 to provide mentorship, education and workforce development as part of its French Culture Film Grant program.

#CreateLouisiana provides an annual grant of $25,000 to one Louisiana filmmaking team for the creation of a short-scripted film or feature-length documentary focusing on French culture and talent. The award from Louisiana Economic Development is earmarked for hands-on instruction and education to be provided by experienced filmmakers to the French Culture Film Grant winners.  

“#CreateLouisiana has an impressive track record of championing Louisiana’s indigenous talent and supporting the entertainment community in our state,” LED Secretary Don Pierson said. “With grants and mentorship, the organization has assisted Louisiana filmmakers in creating and sharing stories that contribute to our creative economy. This latest award from Louisiana’s Entertainment Development Fund will enhance that effort in the months to come.”

The EDF award will enable selected filmmakers to receive mentoring and other assistance from film professionals at #CreateLouisiana and New Orleans-based Deep South Studios.

“We are grateful and honored to receive funding from Louisiana’s Entertainment Development Fund which allows #CreateLouisiana to continue to mentor and support Louisiana filmmakers with our French Culture Film Grant,” #CreateLouisiana founder Scott Niemeyer said. “#CreateLouisiana is genuinely proud to be cooperating with LED as we continue to grow our indigenous filmmaking community through our grant programs, which feature Francophone culture in our great state.”

#CreateLouisiana launched the French Culture Film Grant program in 2017 to showcase the state’s deep connection to French and Francophone culture, and to share stories of Louisiana’s French heritage with national and international audiences. The program has been supported by TV5Monde USA, the only around-the-clock French language entertainment network in the U.S., as well as Cox Communications, Deep South Studios and the Council for the Development of French in Louisiana, a division of the state Department of Culture, Recreation & Tourism.

“TV5Monde USA is proud to have played a key role in the launch of the French Culture Film Grant, which ties in perfectly with the mission of TV5Monde USA and its programming,” TV5Monde USA CEO Patrice Courtaban said. “We welcome the new partnership with LED.”

“Louisiana’s culture is an invaluable economic resource, and that includes our heritage languages,” CODOFIL Executive Director Peggy Feehan said. “As CODOFIL works to maintain, promote and develop our state’s unique linguistic inheritance, we’ve been delighted to see the films produced in Louisiana French and Louisiana Creole with the support of the French Culture Film Grant. This award from the Entertainment Development Fund marks an important investment in the idea that our heritage languages have real value, and we look forward to continuing our partnership with #CreateLouisiana.”

This is the 12th Entertainment Development Fund award announced by LED since the program was launched. Previous awards were made to higher education institutions and nonprofit community programs in Shreveport, Natchitoches, Lafayette, Thibodaux, Baton Rouge and New Orleans.

About #CreateLouisiana
#CreateLouisiana champions Southern talent in the film and media space, supports the entertainment industries that are integral to the region, and fosters a sustainable creative economy for a homegrown cultural workforce. Through grant-making, development programs, educational initiatives, mentorship opportunities and social media, #CreateLouisiana grows our state’s vibrant creative industries and enriches our region’s visionary filmmakers. Learn more at CreateLouisiana.com.

About Louisiana Entertainment
Louisiana is one of the top destinations in the world for motion picture production; digital interactive and software development projects; live performance; and sound recording. With state-of-the-art facilities, a wealth of talent, production-friendly communities and a competitive incentive program, Louisiana is the perfect location for the entertainment industries. For more information on Louisiana film, digital interactive, live performance and sound recording programs, visit Louisiana Entertainment, a division of Louisiana Economic Development, at LouisianaEntertainment.gov.

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