Harold Matzner, the businessman and Coachella Valley philanthropist who helped revitalize the Palm Springs International Film Festival as its chairman for more than two decades, has died. He was 88.

Matzner died Thursday at Eisenhower Health hospital in Rancho Mirage after a brief illness, KESQ-TV reported .

Matzner led the Palm Springs fest from 2000 until he stepped down in April 2023, to be succeeded by Nachhattar Chandi. He donated more than $12 million of his own funds to help turn the January event — which kicked off with humble beginnings in 1990 — into a must-attend awards-season happening.

Harold Matzner, the businessman and Coachella Valley philanthropist who helped revitalize the Palm Springs International Film Festival as its chairman for more than two decades, has die

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