Sep 4, 2025 5:41pm PT Harold Matzner, Philanthropist and Chairman of Palm Springs International Film Festival, Dies at 88 By Pat Saperstein Plus Icon Pat Saperstein Deputy Editor Variety_PatS Latest New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week Kevin Costner Pays Tribute to Dances With Wolves Co-Star Graham Greene Entertainment Attorney Harrison Dossick Dies at 65 2 weeks ago See All Harold Matzner, the philanthropist and businessman who served as chairman of the Palm Springs International Film Festival for more than two decades, died Sept. 4 in Palm Springs after a brief illness.
He was 88. Over nearly four decades in the desert, Matzner donated more than 85 million to local nonprofits and helped the festival become an important stop on the Hollywood awards circuit.
Related Stories 'Hollow Knight: Silksong' Gets September Release Date After Seven Years in Development (Gaming News Roundup) Patrick Gibson to Star as James Bond in Video Game '007 First Light'; Gameplay Trailer, Release Date Revealed (Gaming News Roundup) Born in Newark, N.J., Matzner grew up during the Depression and worked briefly in sports journalism before entering the marketing business. He founded direct-mail advertising firm CBA Industries, which continues to deliver millions of advertising circulars weekly, and remained CEO into his 80s.
In 1999, Matzner stepped in to rescue the struggling Palm Springs International Film Festival. As chairman, he donated more than 12 million of his own money, built the Palm Springs International Film Awards into a popular stop on the awards calendar and helped welcome stars including Meryl Streep, Cate Blanchett, Denzel Washington, George Clooney and Timothée Chalamet.
*Reporting by Variety.*
Harold Matzner, Philanthropist and Chairman of Palm Springs International Film Festival, Dies at 88
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