Court 13 Arts

Court 13 Arts is a New Orleans-based 501(c)3 nonprofit. Our mission is to grow and sustain New Orleans' cinema culture by advancing visual literacy, fostering creative education, and inspiring community-driven collaboration.

We envision a culture of community-based art and filmmaking that helps develop Louisiana talent, incubate them into Intellectual Property holders whenever possible, and anchor them here for the long-term benefit of the Gulf South.

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 this mission since the organization's official inception in 2015.

Testimonials

"One of the most meaningful aspects of the retreat for me was seeing a New Orleans–based organization that genuinely reflected the cultural richness and history of the city. Having Black filmmakers represented among the teaching artists felt phenomenal. It was also great to see representation from Southern Louisiana. I deeply appreciated that the retreat’s faculty reflected a broader range of voices and perspectives" - 2026 Filmmaker Retreat Attendee.

"Gap Tooth Cinema is doing a real service to the NOLA cinema-going community. As a filmmaker and fan, I am really invested in this program" - 2025 Gap Tooth Cinema Presenter

"From the start, Court 13 Arts has been a local idea generator, thinking big and crossing disciplinary boundaries. When they hosted our signature screening of Stop Making Sense, they encouraged us to transform the entire space to make for an unforgettable experience, which is what they're all about." - Travis Bird, founder, Shotgun Cinema

"I want to hold on to so much of what I learned here for a long time and apply it to my future works; the amount of discussion about unconventional, low-budget filmmaking was especially appreciated. I learned so much here that I don't think I would've ever gotten at my university. It is events like these that remind me why I love filmmaking and the communities that surround it so much. Additionally, I was considering immediately leaving Louisiana after my graduation, but this weekend is having me reconsider! The community here is just so wonderful, and this weekend really reminded me of that" - 2026 Filmmaker Retreat Attendee.