Deirdre Haj is the new executive director of the Full Frame Documentary Film Festival. Deirdre Haj at a screening for "Brushes With Life" with the film's executive producer Chuck Weinraub.

She replaces festival board member Peg Palmer, who has temporarily been at the helm while a search was conducted for the next executive director.

I first met Haj, whose husband, Joseph Haj, is the director at Playmakers Repertory Co. at UNC, in fall of 2009, when I was working on a story about Philip Brubaker, a Pittsboro filmmaker with bipolar disorder who made a moving film about artists who were mentally ill. 

Deirdre whipped his film into shape, as producer of Brushes With Life, ultimately helping Brubaker’s career.  The documentary recently won Honorable Mention at the 2009 Voice Awards, which honors writers and producers who portray those with mental health problems in a dignified and respectful way.  

Haj has done many other film and communication projects, including her work as producer of the award-winning documentary “Scene Smoking,” which, among other places, aired on the Discovery Health Network. Prior to her career in film production, she was a theater and film actor, most notably playing Jory Taylor in the CBS series Dallas.

Full Frame is one of the nation’s most highly respected film festivals and is exclusively devoted to the documentary form. The festival will take place April 8-11 in Durham.