Everything You Need to Know About Shine Films

Making Faith Conversations Possible

Young people today live in a world of constant connection. Their lives are shaped as much by the voices of their friends as by parents, teachers, or even church leaders. When a teenager decides to explore faith, it is often not because of a sermon or a program, but because of a conversation with a peer — someone they trust, who makes faith seem real and possible.

That truth lies at the heart of Shine Films. Born out of a collaboration of youth organisations across the UK and Ireland, Shine Films creates short, cinematic series designed to be shown in schools, youth groups, and small gatherings. Each year, a new three-part series is released, focusing on themes that matter to teenagers today: identity, happiness, friendship, hope. The films are not lectures or mini sermons. They are stories — creative, visual, and conversational — crafted to spark dialogue among peers.

Why Shine Films Exists

For years, youth leaders across the UK and Ireland have recognised two simultaneous realities. On the one hand, young people growing up in church communities often drift away from faith during their teenage years. On the other, those outside the church rarely see Christianity as something credible or relevant. Traditional approaches have struggled to bridge this gap.

But research into youth culture has consistently shown something remarkable: young people are influenced most by their peers. Friends are often the ones who introduce them to new ideas, give them confidence to explore questions, and make space for honesty. Teenagers are far more likely to talk with a friend about faith than they are to show up at a church service because of a poster or an event invite. And when those conversations happen, young people themselves say it strengthens their own faith too.

Shine Films was developed precisely for this space. By providing short, engaging films and discussion guides, Shine Films equips young people to start conversations with their peers — not with all the answers, but with honesty, curiosity, and courage. More than that, Shine Films helps teenagers learn how to share faith in everyday life: how to live it authentically, how to speak about it naturally, and how to persevere even when it feels awkward or challenging.

A Creative Approach

Each Shine Films series is built around a theme that resonates with young people’s lived experience. Friend explores the meaning of genuine friendship, drawing on Jesus’ example of love and sacrifice. Known looks at the longing to be truly seen in a world dominated by filters and online performance. Happy? examines where real joy is found, beyond the temporary hits of likes or success. Influencers helps teenagers consider how their everyday choices and conversations can impact others more deeply than they realise.

And throughout these series runs an undercurrent of equipping: the why and the how of sharing faith. Why? Because God is good, and that goodness is worth sharing. Because we are His co-workers and ambassadors, representing Him wherever we go. And because our friends matter deeply to God — more than we can imagine. How? By living out faith in everyday choices, by being real and courageous in conversation, and by committing to the long haul, even when results aren’t immediate.

Shaping a Generation

The vision behind Shine Films is simple: to see young people across schools and communities explore Christianity together, guided not just by adults but by each other. When teenagers talk about their faith, share their questions, or invite a friend into the journey, something powerful happens. Faith becomes relational, not theoretical. It becomes embodied in someone they know and trust.

That’s why Shine Films doesn’t just tell stories — it trains and equips. The accompanying resources give practical tools to help young people share their faith: encouragement to live it out in small, everyday actions; confidence to speak it with honesty and grace; and resilience to keep going when it feels costly. Young people discover that sharing their faith isn’t about being perfect, but about being authentic.

For leaders, Shine Films provides something ready-made: short films, guides, and equipping content that can be picked up and used in classrooms, youth groups, or even informal gatherings of friends.

In every generation, the gospel moves most powerfully through relationships. Shine Films provides the spark — a story, a question, a moment — and then equips young people with the courage and tools to carry the light of Christ into their friendships.

Jonny Somerville is the creator and host of Scripture Union's NUA Film Series. Jonny is passionate about faith development and giving young adults the opportunity to grapple with their faith. Jonny's experiences have shown him that young adults often struggle to discuss their doubts. For this reason, Jonny has recently developed NUA, an 8 part film series that encourages questions, acknowledges doubt, and offers and engaging perspective on Christian faith. Jonny and his wife, Susan, have 4 children and live in Dublin, Ireland.