HANDS ACROSS THE WATER:
TIF-IN RETURNS TO L.A.

Lucian Grainge will don his CBE when, along with Lord Marland, U.K. Trade & Investment, UMG, Founders Forum, BBC Worldwide and plain ol’ BBC bring back the Technology Innovators Forum to L.A. The two-day forum, designed to help promote trade with the U.K.’s most innovative technology and media companies, is set for April 28-29 at several locations across the city, with panels and sessions planned at Quixote Studios in West Hollywood. The co-hosts are movie and TV producer Peter Chernin of the Chernin Group, WME co-CEO Ari Emanuel and Vessel co-founder/CEO Jason Kilar.

As this morning’s release puts it, the will explore how music, TV, film, live events and innovative services are influencing, as well as being influenced by, new digital platforms that give consumers more control over how they enjoy their favorite entertainment. To that end, industry leaders from the music, film, TV, digital and videogame industries will be on hand. More than 30 innovative companies, including a selection of U.K. creative-technology high-growth businesses, will participate.

Since the inaugural conference took place in 2013 in L.A., TIF-IN (as it’s called for short) has been held in London and Qingdao, China. Together, the three TIF-IN forums have drawn 700 attendees, featured 80 companies and resulted in $200 million in deals.