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Harold Matzner

Palm Springs International Film Festival Closes With Movie Screening and Q&A for Robert De Niro Comedy

February 13, 2017January 31, 2017 by Harold Matzner

Robert De Niro further cemented his legacy as one of Hollywood’s greatest by showing his acting range in a comedy that elicited laugh after laugh. …

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A Dizzying Array of Stars Shined at the Palm Springs Film Awards Gala

January 30, 2017 by Harold Matzner

The level of Hollywood, Bollywood, and all-around star power was exceptionally high this year at the Palm Springs Film Awards Gala. The crowd of A-listers included the …

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‘The Comedian’ Star Leslie Mann Stuns in Red at Palm Springs International Film Festival Closing Night Screening and Q&A

February 14, 2017January 16, 2017 by Harold Matzner

Comedic royalty Leslie Mann, husband Judd Apatow, and costar Robert DeNiro showed up glowing at screening for her film The Comedian at the Palm Springs International …

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Palm Springs International Film Festival Opening Night Impresses All In Attendance

January 30, 2017January 15, 2017 by Harold Matzner

The impressive opening night launched the start of 473 screenings of 192 films from 72 countries on 21 screens, with Ritesh Batra’s “The Sense of an Ending” …

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Variety’s 20th Creative Impact Awards Brunch Shines Light on 10 Up and Coming Directors

January 30, 2017January 14, 2017 by Harold Matzner

The star studded yet casual brunch with a “Hollywood meets Palm Springs” vibe highlighted 10 prominent directors on the rise and honored the likes of …

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‘When We Rise’ and ‘Toni Erdmann’ Win Audience Award & Best Foreign Film, Respectively

February 22, 2017January 14, 2017 by Harold Matzner

The miniseries and foreign film were honored at a Palm Springs International Film Festival luncheon. To Read Original Article at The Hollywood Reporter, Click Here: The Hollywood Reporter, January …

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Linda Lavin and Billy Stritch Bring Down the House at a Fundraiser for Temple Isaiah

January 24, 2017January 14, 2017 by Harold Matzner

The legendary theater performer treated the 400-person audience to a fabulous cabaret show worthy of the brightest Broadway lights, all to benefit Temple Isaiah. To Read …

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Guy Pearce Draws Applause and Tears from Crowd at Palm Springs International Film Festival

February 10, 2017January 13, 2017 by Harold Matzner

The 8-hour miniseries “When We Rise” aired for the first time at the Palm Springs International Film Festival, with stars Guy Pearce, Whoopi Goldberg, and …

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A Photo Recap of the A-Listers Who Attended the Palm Springs International Film Awards

February 13, 2017January 12, 2017 by Harold Matzner

Highlights of some of the honorees at the Gala included Ruth Negga (Loving), Mahershala Ali (Moonlight), Nicole Kidman (Lion), Andrew Garfield (Hacksaw Ridge), the Hidden Figures cast …

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The Stars Feel At Home At Palm Springs International Film Festival

February 13, 2017January 10, 2017 by Harold Matzner

The Palm Springs International Film Festival has evolved to be a spectacular affair both honoring and attended by Hollywood heavyweights the likes of Warren Beaty, …

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Palm Springs International Film Awards: One of the More Important Celebrations of Indie Films

February 14, 2017January 8, 2017 by Harold Matzner

Alongside the Golden Globes, the Palm Springs International Film Festival shines the spotlight on independent films, which often discuss important and timely social issues. This …

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2016 Citizens of Distinction Recognition Luncheon Recognizes Significant Contributors

January 24, 2017January 7, 2017 by Harold Matzner

Harold Matzner joined fellow presenters in honoring those who have contributed greatly to the success of the College of the Desert (COD) and to the …

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Palm Springs International Film Festival Opening Provides First Class Platform for Filmmakers

January 24, 2017January 7, 2017 by Harold Matzner

The Palm Springs International Film Festival’s recognition of fine films and lavish galas rev up awards season with 21 screens showing 190 films from 72 …

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Celebs Show Palm Springs Some Serious Love…

February 13, 2017January 6, 2017 by Harold Matzner

Jane Lynch, Ryan Gosling, and Amy Adams, among others, expressed their love for the Palm Springs community at the Variety Awards Lunch… To Read Original Article …

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Diversity on Display at the Palm Springs International Film Festival Awards Gala

January 30, 2017January 3, 2017 by Harold Matzner

The glitzier side of the Palm Springs International Film Festival Awards celebrated diversity by honoring performances in films like “Moonlight,” “Hidden Figures,” and “Loving.” Janelle Monáe and …

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Harold Matzner
Entrepreneur, humanitarian, and philanthropist, Harold Matzner, has made his home in the desert for more than 30 years. The owner of Palm Spring’s popular Spencer’s Restaurant and CEO of a NY/NJ based branding, advertising and marketing company, Harold is credited with revitalizing the Palm Springs International Film Festival and founding the successful business concept of targeted “shared mail”.
In 2017, the year of his 80th birthday, Harold was one of the eleven men and women selected nationally by the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans as a member and inducted by Judge Clarence Thomas in the courtroom of the United States Supreme Court. Harold was also honored with a special 24-standard page birthday section in the The Desert Sun and a two-part front page story in Palm Springs Life in the November and December editions. He was honored in November 2017 by the General Patton Memorial Museum with the dedication of the Matzner Tank Pavilion and three World War II operating tanks, and in the same month was honored by the McCallum Theatre for 10 years of service as Chairman and for being the first person to give the Theatre $5 million or more.
He also rescued and revived the world famous Palm Springs Tennis Club and turned its lunchroom into Spencer’s, one of the City’s hottest see-and-be-seen restaurants. Spencer’s is named after his beloved 110-pound Siberian husky. Mr. Matzner is in his 11th year as the Chairman of the Board of the McCallum Theatre, his 14th year as Chairman of the Palm Springs International Film Festival, and is the long-time Executive Vice Chairman of the Palm Springs Art Museum. He serves on the Board of Trustees of the Eisenhower Medical Center and Barbara Sinatra Children’s Center. He also chairs several charity fundraising events each year.
He has received many awards from the charities that he supports. He has been honored by the Association of Fundraising Professionals as the “Philanthropist of the Year”, and for the past six years he has served as Honorary Chair of the local National Philanthropy Day event. He has also been recognized by Gilda’s Club as the “Man of the Year”, by the McCallum Muses as “Man of the Year”, the City of Palm Springs with the “Richard M. Milanovich Community Service Award”, as “Angel of the Year” by Angel View Children’s Foundation, as “Businessperson of the Year” by the Palm Springs Chamber of Commerce, the Virginia Waring “Lifetime Achievement Award”, “Richard M. Milanovich Humanitarian Award” by the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, and by Desert Samaritan’s as “Samaritan of the Year”, and will be honored in May by the Coachella Valley Symphony, to name a few. Mr. Matzner has been a benefactor to many other non-profits, both here and on the East coast.
Mr. Matzner is one of the Palm Springs valley’s largest donors to philanthropy and has contributed more than $70 million to area non-profits since 2000. Among the many local charities benefiting from his philanthropic efforts are the Barbara Sinatra Children’s Center, AIDS Assistance Program, Desert Symphony, American Cancer Society, The Living Desert, Cabot’s Pueblo Museum, Coachella Valley Symphony, General Patton Memorial Museum, ACT for MS, College of the Desert, Eisenhower Medical Center, Desert AIDS Project, Desert Cancer Foundation, Palm Springs Animal Shelter, Jewish Family Services of the Desert, American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), StandWithUs, Neuro Vitality Center, Coachella Valley Repertory Theatre, Temple Isaiah, Bighorn BAM (Behind a Miracle), Tools for Tomorrow, Palm Springs Air Museum, Mizell Senior Center, Well in the Desert, FIND Food Bank, Pegasus Riding Academy, LGBTQ The Center, Equality California, and the Human Rights Campaign.
He is credited with the key leadership role in creating Palm Springs’ Measure J (a 1% sales tax increase that has helped to fund a $200 million downtown revitalization program, while providing an additional surplus of $12 million per year to rebuild the city’s infrastructure). He is a community activist. He earns no money from any of his activities in Palm Springs, including his restaurant, Spencer’s.
Mr. Matzner’s star is located at the foot of his friend Sonny Bono’s statue in the heart of Palm Springs.

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In 2017, the year of his 80th birthday, Harold was one of the eleven men and women selected nationally by the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans as a member and inducted by Judge Clarence Thomas.

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  • We’ve announced the Palm Springs International ShortFest lineup! June 10, 2024
  • Palm Springs International Film Society Receives Grant from the National Endowment for the Arts June 5, 2024
  • Palm Springs International Film Society Expands Youth Programs in the Coachella Valley May 14, 2024
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