Why churches are switching to JFP content at Easter
Most church leaders planning an Easter film have the same question: do we need a licence? And the honest answer is, for anything commercial, yes. Films like The Passion of the Christ require a CCLI Licence for Public Showing or a separate PRS arrangement. That's cost, admin, and usually a minimum spend before Holy Week has even started.
Jesus Film Project content is different. It's produced specifically for ministry use, hosted free on YouTube, and designed to be shown in groups. No licence required. No per-showing fee. No application to fill in. You just play it.
That's not the only reason it works. The content itself is built for group settings, not for individual viewing at home. Short enough to fit in a service. Rich enough to run a 30-minute conversation after. And quality that stands up on a screen.
JFP Easter films vs. licensed commercial films
My Last Day — the Easter short film that actually works in groups
This is where to start. Nine minutes, anime format, and it covers the crucifixion from the point of view of the repentant thief. The story is from Luke 23 — one of the most theologically rich passages in the Gospels. But because of how it's told, people who'd normally switch off for "a church film" stay with it.
The anime format does something important: it removes the mental category of "religious content" that makes people put their walls up. They watch it as a story. And then, when they're processing what they just saw, the conversation happens naturally.
The crucifixion through the eyes of the repentant thief. Nine minutes of anime that catches people completely off guard — and opens conversations about grace, forgiveness, and who Jesus is that can run for an hour. The most consistently effective Easter short film for mixed groups.
View details and discussion guide →One tip that makes a real difference: don't introduce it as a film about the crucifixion or Easter. Just say you're watching a short film and press play. The response is more genuine when people don't arrive with expectations. You can frame it afterwards.
Discussion questions for My Last Day
- What surprised you most about the film?
- The thief beside Jesus didn't earn anything — what was given to him freely. How does that land for you?
- What does Jesus' response to him tell you about who Jesus is?
- Is there anything in your life you find it hard to accept being forgiven for?
- If this story is true, what does that mean for how we think about the people around us?
The Holy Week series — one video per day, Palm Sunday to Easter
If you want a structured programme for Holy Week, this is the simplest ready-to-use option available. Eight short videos, one for each day from Palm Sunday through Easter Sunday. Each is 5 to 10 minutes long. Show it at the start of a service, a small group, or a prayer morning, then talk about it.
No preparation beyond pressing play. No extra material to write. The content holds the weight, you hold the space.
See the full Holy Week series page with complete discussion questions for each day.
Easter films by age group
Not everything works for every age. Here's what to use for each group you're likely to be running at Easter.
Short episodes (5-8 mins) with clear visual storytelling. Works for Sunday school, holiday clubs, and children's church programmes.
Anime format cuts through the "church film" reaction. Works in youth groups, school CU, RE classes, and confirmation groups. Show it cold, without explanation.
Nine minutes, then however long the conversation takes. Works for small groups, Alpha evenings, and mid-week gatherings. Effective with people who don't usually come to church.
The complete story (83 minutes). Good for community film nights and open Easter events. Accessible for people with no church background. Seen by over 500 million people worldwide.
The Jesus Film — for longer events and open screenings
The complete story of Jesus based on the Gospel of Luke. If you're running a community Easter film night or an open church event, this is the most accessible full-length option available free. No licence needed. Seen by over 500 million people in more than 1,800 languages.
View full film page →Setting up your Easter screening
Technical basics
If you're showing to more than 10 people, use a projector or large screen. Audio matters more than picture quality — a poor-quality image people can see is fine; audio people have to strain to hear is not. If you only own a laptop, external speakers make a real difference. Test everything 15 minutes before people arrive.
Before you press play
Keep introductions short. For My Last Day, the briefer the better. "We're going to watch a 9-minute film" is enough. For the Holy Week series, you can give the day's context briefly — "Today we're watching what happened on Palm Sunday" — then let the video speak.
After the film
Silence first. A few seconds of quiet is not awkward — it's people processing. Then one open question. "What stayed with you from that?" or "What surprised you?" Don't be the first person to give an answer. The response that comes when you wait tends to go much deeper than anything prompted immediately.
Easter 2026 key dates
Register as a partner church
If you're planning to use JFP content regularly — not just at Easter — register as a partner church. It's free, and it gives you access to complete discussion guides, follow-up resources, and the full library of JFP content. It also means we can send you materials when new content is released. See the churches page to register, or the Easter resources for churches page for the full seasonal guide.
Also worth reading: the guide to using JFP content with youth groups — covers the full library with age-appropriate recommendations for every format.