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Filmmaker, author and cultural historian Glen Pitre is the recipient of the 2024 James William Rivers Prize in �㽶Ӱ�� Studies, the �㽶Ӱ��’s Center for �㽶Ӱ�� 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 �㽶Ӱ��’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 �㽶Ӱ�� 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 �㽶Ӱ��’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 �㽶Ӱ��. The center also oversees the �㽶Ӱ�� Press. 

Learn more about the center’s and .

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