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Palm Springs film festival on pace to set attendance record heading into final weekend

January 17, 2019 by Harold Matzner

With stars like Bradley Cooper, Rami Malek, Melissa McCarthy, and Spike Lee among the recipients, this year’s International Palm Springs Film Festival has been setting attendance …

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Categories Press Tags 2019 palm springs international film festival, bradley cooper, harold matzner, melissa mccarthy, rami malek

The Palm Springs film festival is positioned to survive. L.A.’s didn’t. Here’s why

January 17, 2019 by Harold Matzner

Unlike other film festivals (like the LA Film Fest), the Palm Springs Film Festival has been able to withstand the test of time. With a …

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Categories Press Tags 2019 palm springs international film festival, golden globes, harold matzner, oscar, palm springs

‘Roma’ director Alfonso Cuarón appears on Palm Springs film fest red carpet

January 17, 2019January 17, 2019 by Harold Matzner

Roma director Alfonso Cuaron showed up to the Palm Springs International Film Festival Awards Gala ‘s red carpet around 6, seen giving an autograph to a fan. …

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Categories Press Tags 2019 palm springs international film festival, Alfonso Cuarón, harold matzner, Palm Springs International Film Fest Awards Gala, roma

Queen biopic star Rami Malek appears on red carpet at Palm Springs film fest

January 7, 2019 by Harold Matzner

Previously known for his starring role in the Mr. Robot TV series, Malek received a warm welcome at the Palm Springs International Film Festival Film …

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Categories Press Tags 2019 palm springs international film festival, bohemian rhapsody, freddy mercury, harold matzner, mr robot, queen, rami malek

Bradley Cooper arrives to ‘Happy Birthday’ on red carpet at Palm Springs film fest

January 7, 2019 by Harold Matzner

Recipient of the Palm Springs International Film Festival’s Director of the Year Award, Bradley Cooper showed up to the red carpet with the onlooking crowd …

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Categories Press Tags 2019 palm springs international film festival, a star is born, bradley cooper, harold matzner, lady gaga, Palm Springs International Film Fest Awards

‘Mary Poppins Returns’ Cast Tapped for Palm Springs Film Festival Honor

January 2, 2019 by Harold Matzner

Selected for the Palm Springs International Film Festival’s Ensemble Performance Award, Mary Poppins manages to “re-create the magic and adventure of the first film,” according …

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Categories Press Tags emily blunt, ensemble performance award, golden globes, harold matzner, mary poppins, SAG

McCallum Theatre Gala

December 17, 2018 by Harold Matzner

The 31st Annual McCallum Theatre Fundraising Gala began with cocktails and an elegant dinner at one of four of Palm Springs’ restaurants and concluded with …

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Categories Press Tags harold matzner, McCallum Theater, McCallum Theatre Fundraising Gala

Spike Lee to Receive Palm Springs Festival Career Achievement Award

December 11, 2018 by Harold Matzner

“Spike Lee has been an outstanding warrior for equal rights while creating an iconic body of film and television work over his 30-year career,” says Palm …

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Categories Press Tags 2019 palm springs international film festival, BlacKkKlansman, harold matzner, lifetime achievement award, spike lee

Film News Roundup: Palm Springs Film Festival Honors ‘Green Book’ With Vanguard Award

December 11, 2018November 27, 2018 by Harold Matzner

“Green Book,” starring Viggo Mortensen and Mahershala Ali, will be awarded with the Vanguard Award at the Palm Springs Film Festival. The group honor goes to …

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Categories Press Tags 2019 palm springs international film festival, green book, harold matzner, Mahershala Ali, Viggo Mortensen

Melissa McCarthy To Receive Award At Palm Springs Film Festival

December 11, 2018November 27, 2018 by Harold Matzner

Melissa McCarthy will be presented with the Spotlight Award at the Palm Springs International Film Festival by her Can You Ever Forgive Me? co-star, Richard E. Grant. …

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Categories Press Tags 2019 palm springs international film festival, Can You Ever Forgive Me?, harold matzner, melissa mccarthy, spotlight award

Dia De Los Muertos

November 6, 2018November 6, 2018 by Harold Matzner

Well In The Desert hosted a day of activities based around remembering loved ones and honoring their grave sites at Desert Memorial Park. Face painting, …

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Categories Press Tags city of cathedral, desert memorial park, dia de lost muertes, harold matzner, palm springs, well in the desert

National Philanthropy Day Announces Nominations

October 30, 2018 by Harold Matzner

The Association of Fundraising Professionals CA got together this past weekend to announce nominations for The 12th Annual Philanthropy Day in the Desert, taking place …

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Categories Press Tags Agua Caliente casino Resort, annual philanthropy day, association of fundraising professionals, harold matzner, spencer's restaurant

Dining Out for Life Greater Palm Springs 2018 raises $280,000

October 22, 2018 by Harold Matzner

Spencer’s Restaurant, Lulu California Bistro, and Trio raised a combined $61,679 for the Dining Out For Life Coachella Valley initiative, in which 10,000 Coachella Valley residents came out strong …

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Categories Press Tags coachella valley, Desert AIDS Project, dining out for life, harold matzner, Lulu california bistro, spencer's restaurant

Pets on Parade Popped Again for 20th Anniversary

October 22, 2018 by Harold Matzner

The 20th anniversary for Pets On Parade was held at the Miramonte Hotel, where pet lovers and their furry friends enjoyed lunch together while enjoying …

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Categories Press Tags coachella animal network, harold matzner, miramonte, pegasus therapeutic riding, pets on parade

Dinner in the Canyons

October 22, 2018October 22, 2018 by Harold Matzner

The 2018-2019 Coachella Valley social season got its unofficial kick-off with the 27th annual “Dinner In The Canyons,” hosted by The Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians.  …

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Categories Press Tags agua caliente, Cahuilla Indians, coachella valley, dinner in the canyons, harold matzner, lulu's
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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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Harold Matzner

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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  • Celebration of Life for Harold Matzner October 6, 2025
  • A statement from the family of Harold Matzner September 10, 2025
  • Harold Matzner, Legendary Desert Philanthropist and Business Visionary, Dies at 88 in Palm Springs September 5, 2025
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