Film that opens real conversations with young people
Most young people in Ireland today are not hostile to faith — they are simply indifferent to bad representations of it. The right film changes that. It removes the defensive crouch and opens a space for honest conversation that a talk or leaflet rarely reaches.
Jesus Film Project has produced a range of free content built specifically for this — content that works in youth groups, school settings, college chaplaincies, and student CUs across Ireland. Everything here is free on YouTube, no permissions needed.
Built for Ireland: The NUA series was produced with Irish young adults in mind. It engages with questions of identity, doubt, and meaning in a way that connects with the Irish cultural context. The Way of St Patrick series connects Patrick's actual story to conversations young people are already having about faith and belonging. This is content made for your context, not translated from somewhere else.
NUA — the series built for Irish young adults
NUA is the best starting point for any youth worker or chaplain working with young people who are somewhere between curious and sceptical about faith. The series is high quality, honest, and built around questions rather than answers. It works for Alpha groups, youth outreach events, and any setting where young people are genuinely exploring.
Each episode is short enough to screen in a single session and structured to open discussion afterwards. The series does not assume any prior belief — it is designed specifically for people who are not sure.
Built for young adults in Ireland who are asking honest questions about God, identity, and whether faith makes sense today. High production quality, genuine engagement with doubt. Not preachy — designed to start a conversation.
Browse all NUA episodes →Discussion questions for a NUA session
- What question in the episode landed most with you?
- Is there something about faith you've always wondered but never asked out loud?
- What would it take for you to take this more seriously?
- If God existed, would that change anything for you practically?
- What do your friends think about Christianity? Does that affect you?
The Way of St Patrick — Irish identity meets faith
Most young people in Ireland have grown up with some version of Patrick's story. The Way of St Patrick series goes behind the legend to the actual man — his capture and slavery as a teenager, his escape, and his decision to return to Ireland. What drove that? The series connects Patrick's story to questions of calling, purpose, and faith that young people are already wrestling with.
It is particularly effective in the weeks around St Patrick's Day, but the questions it raises are year-round. Three episodes, each around 15–20 minutes, each designed to stand alone or run as a short series.
Patrick's real story — capture, slavery, escape, and return to Ireland. Connects Irish cultural identity to the story of faith in a way that lands with young people who already know the legend but not the person.
Watch the series →My Last Day — for Good Friday and youth events
My Last Day is a 30-minute anime short film that tells the crucifixion from the perspective of the repentant thief. The anime format is what makes it work — young people who would disengage from conventional church content often engage fully with this. It reaches people emotionally before their defences have a chance to go up.
It is one of the most used JFP resources in youth ministry worldwide, and it works just as well in Ireland. Show it at a Good Friday event, an Easter youth night, or any gathering where you want a film that genuinely starts a conversation.
The crucifixion through the eyes of the repentant thief. Anime format that removes barriers and reaches young people emotionally. Particularly strong for Good Friday gatherings and Easter youth events.
View film page →How to introduce it: Don't say you're showing a film about the crucifixion. Say you're watching a 30-minute short. Let the film do the work. After it ends, allow 30 seconds of quiet, then ask one question: "What stayed with you from that?" The conversation tends to take care of itself from there.
More resources for Irish youth ministry
Jesus Film Project has produced a wide range of content for different age groups and contexts. Here is a quick guide to what works where:
- Secondary schools (ages 12–18): My Last Day for RE or assembly, Holy Week daily clips for the week leading up to Easter
- Youth groups (ages 14–20): NUA series for outreach events and Alpha-style gatherings, The Way of St Patrick for St Patrick's Day content
- College chaplaincies and CUs: NUA for outreach events, Why is Easter So Important? for apologetics discussions
- Children's ministry (ages 5–12): NUA Easter for Kids, The Story of Jesus for Children
- Good Friday services: My Last Day (30 min), Holy Week series clips, the full JESUS Film for a longer event
Easter content for Irish youth groups in 2026
Holy Week runs from 29 March to Easter Sunday on 5 April 2026. The Holy Week series from Jesus Film Project gives you one short film per day — from Palm Sunday through Easter Sunday. Each clip is around 5–8 minutes and comes with a discussion question built in. You can show them at the start of each youth gathering through the week, or run them as a standalone Easter series.
For more Easter resources, see the Easter resources for Irish churches page.