I plan to start a First Fridays Food, Film & Faith event in the fall at my house. I have many friends who have expressed interest in this so I'm not sure yet what the response will be. If too many show up, we'll have to find another place to meet, as I can probably accommadate (sp) 12 to 15. So I have some questions. Rather than me running all over the internet looking for resources, can you give me some good links?
Also in your experience is there a best-sized group for discussions like this?
Suggestions for getting started?
What might be some good ice-breaking films to begin with?
Much merci.

Tell us a bit about the group -- age, gender, interests. How do they feel about subtitles, or about profanity? And what perspective are you coming from -- evangelical, process, Catholic? Many films are good for all, but some fit niches very well.

As you look though the Movies and Ministry forum, you'll find some of the things some of us have used in group. You'll also find a topic on Christianity Today study guides which can be very useful.

For opening, it might be interesting to take a film most people have seen as entertainment, and then let them discover the spiritual aspect that they may have overlooked.

You can also look at the past selections at Cornerstone, or City of Angels Film Festival, or Whitehead International Film Festival (nearly all of these have links in the festivals section) to see what have been used there.

MoviesMatter has some resources and lots of links to other websites, books, etc.

You can't tell the quality of the discussions from the size of the group. I've had fantastic discussions with 20 in a group, and some that were great with three or four. I've great groups ruined by one loudmouth, or someone otherwise insensitive to other people's perspectives. The role of the discussion leader has to be very flexible in those circumstances. Generally, one shouldn't be able to tell who the leader even is, with mature participation from everyone. That doesn't always happen, though.

Be sure to list your group, once it settles down, at the MoviesMatter group directory!