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BIDDEFORD, Maine

UNE Marine Animal Rehabilitation Center film featuring baby harp seal 'Stef' accepted into ocean-based film festival 

Stef, a baby harp seal pup that skyrocketed into the spotlight last year when she arrived at the UNE Marine Animal Rehabilitation Center (MARC) in Biddeford, Maine, can now be seen in a short-documentary that has been accepted into the Beneath the Waves Film Festival in Norfolk, Virginia.

Viewers can watch Stef's entire rehabilitation process in a five-minute film created by MARC staff animal care technician Shannon Prendiville. "Stef - Lover of Ice in the Land of Lobster" comprises mixed media including still photos, high-definition footage, and round-the-clock monitoring footage within the rehab center. The story showcases the challenges and rewards of raising an unusual young animal and touches on environmental and anthropogenic changes affecting the species.

"Stef- Lover of Ice in the Land of Lobster" has been accepted for the "Best Message" and "Best Amatuer Film" categories at the festival taking place March 21-24. The Beneath the Waves Film Festival, which is held in conjunction with the Benthic Ecology Meeting at Old Dominion University, will feature films on the IMAX screen at the Nauticus. The film festival will also go on tour in the United States and abroad during the summer and fall 2012.

More information about the film festival can be found at its website.

"Stef - Lover of Ice in the Land of Lobster" can be viewed on the University of New England's YouTube Channel.

For more information about Stef or the film "Stef - Lover of Ice in the Land of Lobster," contact Kathleen Taggersell at 207-602-2269.

About the University of New England

The University of New England is Maine’s largest independent university, with two beautiful coastal campuses in Maine, a one-of-a-kind study abroad campus in Tangier, Morocco, and an array of flexible, accredited online degrees. In an uncommonly welcoming and supportive community, we offer hands-on learning, empowering students to make a positive impact in a world full of challenges. The state’s top provider of health professionals, we are home to Maine’s only medical college, Maine’s only dental college, a variety of other interprofessionally aligned health care degree programs, as well as nationally recognized programs for marine science degrees, natural and social sciences degrees, arts and humanities degrees, and business degrees.