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Film “Georgia’s Farmer Veterans – Jon Jackson” sews seeds of change

Beginning on August 15, 2017, Cause +Effect Progressive Film Festival will accept 2-15 minute films about poverty, homelessness, river pollution, gun violence and any other political, environmental, economic or social justice issue that affects Georgians. The festival is free to enter and the winning filmmaker will receive $1,000 cash and screen at the November festival in Athens.

For more films from the only Georgia-focused film festival go to the 2017 Cause + Effect Progressive Film Festival website.

2016 Cause + Effect finalist “Georgia’s Farmer Veterans — Jon Jackson,” directed by Christine Anthony and Owen Masterson, tells a story of recovery through farming. This short documentary follows Jon Jackson as he manages his heritage farm and discusses how farming has helped him heal.

This is the husband-and-wife team’s second entry into the Cause + Effect Progressive Film Festival in as many years. Their 2015 entry, “We Farm Georgia” examined organic farming as one farmer’s way of connecting to her Latina heritage.

“Georgia’s Farmer Veterans — Jon Jackson” focuses on Jackson’s sustainable farming as a way of recovery. While in the service, Jackson sustained traumatic brain injury that prevents him from making new memories. He says that farming helps him because he can look around and see what he’s done, which helps him remember. “I think, inadvertently, it’s helping me recover what I lost.”

Finding therapeutic careers for veterans after combat is an ever-growing issue. Veterans have many critical issues facing them when they return from service including mental health and depression, homelessness and trauma. Continuing to find opportunities like this one, that can both provide income and therapy to veterans, is deeply important.

Cause + Effect Progressive Film Festival provides a platform for Georgia filmmakers to tackle important political, environmental, economic, and social justice issues facing their communities.

For more films like “Georgia’s Farmer Veterans – Jon Jackson,” check out the Cause + Effect website. Check the website for more details.

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