The Academy Awards gave a nod to Louisiana Thursday when "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," which was shot in New Orleans and is considered the state's biggest project to date, earned the most nominations with 13. The movie stars Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett.

Last August Facing South reported on the success of "Trouble the Water," a documentary shot among the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, and which was hailed by the New York Times as "one of the best American documentaries in recent memory." The documentary has earned a nomination for best documentary feature.

Following the 2005 hurricanes, Louisiana, and more specifically New Orleans, has been trying to recreate itself as a go-to place for filmmaking. Indeed industry observers say that 2008 was a record-breaking year for filmmaking in Louisiana, with more than 80 projects shooting the in state.

Brad Pitt, who relocated his family to New Orleans in 2007 and helps with rebuilding through his charity the Make It Right Foundation, has called his latest film "a love story to New Orleans."