Stacie and Andrew Vaughan of Columbus are show in Nashville in the documentary “I Married the War.”
Photo provided
Past moviegoers have said that perhaps one of the strongest focuses of the YES Film Festival through the years has been one of in-your-face awareness and education of a plethora of issues via riveting storytelling.
The 2023 event slated Friday through Sunday at YES Cinemas in downtown Columbus does that through filmmaking duo Betty and Ken Rodgers’ documentary “I Married the War.” It highlights 11 war wives, from World War II to today, telling of the pain, struggle and inspirational love and courage required to welcome home their husband — a husband returning a very changed man due to the shockwaves such as PTSD, traumatic brain injury, depression, alcoholism and more.
Columbus residents Stacie and Andrew Vaughan are among the couples highlighted in gritty, raw detail. An explosion in Iraq left Andrew Vaughan with a traumatic brain injury and an awful adversity that neither spouse can fully comprehend.
“My heart just absolutely breaks for him,” his wife says with tears in her eyes in the film when referencing his horrifying flashbacks and nightmares.
The festival, who attracted 700 people last year, includes other challenging topics as well.
Former Columbus resident and actress Alisha Gaddis stars in the short film “Alone Together,” shot in Columbus. The work that Gaddis wrote highlights her as Jill, a woman who journeys solo to “celebrate” her 10-year marital anniversary trip. Overcome with sadness, loss and memory, Jill must decide to live unhappily together with her partner or face the future, alone.
Gaddis, an animated type who celebrates the city perhaps as much as anyone with a connection, posted on Facebook her excitement about the film being at YES.
“So happy and honored to share with the cast and crew that made it, in the place it was made!!!” she wrote, allowing her exclamations to run wild. “We did it y’all!! Everyone better come down and celebrate art being made in OUR town!!”
The festival, coordinated by Columbus native Diane Mason serving in a volunteer role as artistic director, includes lighter fare among its 23 total films, such as “The Nana Project.” Set in the competitive world of chess, the flick follows Nana’s (academy award winner Mercedes Ruehl) journey in a heartwarming, feel-good comedy about reuniting her grandsons (Will Peltz and Nolan Gould) and supporting her retirement community.
Plus, this year’s festival is flexing its muscles of growth in a new way — with question-and-answer sessions with directors of 10 of the films, a record number for YES
“It seems like overall — from all the different people I get in contact with about the festival — there seems to be more energy,” Mason said. “I think we have a wonderful films this year, but we always have a wonderful films. But something this year feels different — in a really good way.
” … The films with Q&As are always the most popular. But we need to get the word out.”
People such as Columbus ticket buyer Jeff Decker, whose movie review blog “This Guy at the Movies,” appears on Facebook, loves the question-and-answer sessions as much as the films.
“These are artists who are passionate about their craft, telling important stories about socially relevant topics and the human condition that also entertain,” Decker said. “They aren’t doing what they do for money or fame.
“They are doing it because they have something to say and want an audience to see, hear and appreciate it, and think about what they have just watched.”
About the festival
What: Annual YES Film Festival, featuring shorts, documentaries and narrative films.
When: Movies playing various times Friday through Sunday.
Where: YES Cinema, 328 Jackson St. in downtown Columbus.
Information and tickets: yesfilmfestival.com.
