The Year’s Best Christian Films

The Arts & Faith Ecumenical Jury is made up of film critics and cinephiles who wish to recognize and celebrate films that use the medium to explore themes of religion, faith, or spirituality. We particularly seek to enlarge or expand the perception of what is meant by either labeling a film a “Christian” film or suggesting that it should be of interest to Christian audiences. The jury seeks to recognize quality films (regardless of genre) that have challenged, moved, enlightened, or entertained us and to draw the attention of Christian audiences to films it thinks have the potential to do the same for them.

This year’s awardees include films from Hollywood and Europe, feature films and a documentary, independents and big-budget studio films. Of particular interest are the “honorable mention” films that did not make it to the list but were selected by individual judges. Awardees included “Fury,” the very violent WWII film starring Brad Pitt, “Ida,” a black and white film about a nun who discovers that she is of Jewish heritage, “The Overnighters,” a documentary about a Lutheran clergyman struggling to help the men who came to his community in North Dakota from out of state to work in the oil industry, and “Calvary,” the story of an dedicated Irish priest trying to heal damage that is almost inimaginable.