An original feature film made in the Marshall Islands, performed by island residents, and produced to support local education, interweaves Marshallese folklore with the challenges faced by youth in the islands today.

Ña Noniep deals with the spiritual battle between a ri‑anijnij (an evil Marshallese maker of black magic) and a noniep (a Marshallese fairy-like creature) for the soul of a 13-year old boy, Liki. The film portrays Liki as an “off-the-chart” brilliant student who can solve math problems without using pencil or paper and who can read a thick novel in a few days.

The Marshallese language film, with English subtitles, stars Randon Jack, Lulani Ritok, Kyle Trevor, Netha Gideon, Matiti Johnson, Alson Kelen and Sarah Enyeart. All of the music in the film was performed by four eighth-grade girls—⁠—Kery Ann Lejjena, Carly Ann Note, Lulani Note and Cinderella Lajidrik—⁠—from the Majuro Cooperative School, a private, secular school presently serving grades pre-K through 9th.