 | |
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1981; 44 years ago (1981) (as Vestron Video International) 1990; 35 years ago (1990) (as First Independent Films) |
| Defunct | 1999; 26 years ago (1999) |
| Fate | Sold to and later folded intoColumbia TriStar Home Video |
| Headquarters | London, England |
| Parent | Vestron Video (1981–1990) HTV (1990–1998) Columbia TriStar Home Video (1998–1999) |
First Independent Films was a Britishfilm distributor andhome video company that replacedVestron Video International's UK operations.
Vestron Video formed their international division Vestron Video International in 1981, including a UK subsidiary. In May 1990,HTV, theITV franchise holder for Wales and the West of England, acquired Vestron UK and renamed the company to First Independent Films.[1][2][3]
Although a small film company, the company distributed a wide selection of genres. The company's main third-party partner wasTurner Entertainment Co., with First Independent distributing products fromCastle Rock Entertainment,Turner Pictures Worldwide Distribution,Hanna-Barbera Cartoons and selectNew Line Cinema releases (alternating with their main UK partnerEntertainment Film Distributors). First Independent also distributed local and independent films.
The company began to meet its demise after Turner Entertainment Co. was sold toTime Warner in 1996 andWarner Bros. took over distribution of Turner's properties from them, aside from New Line Cinema releases which reverted fully to Entertainment Film Distributors. The commercial failure ofG.I. Jane in the UK led toUnited News & Media, by this point the parent company of HTV, to exit out of the theatrical market and put the company up for sale in February 1998.[1]Columbia TriStar Home Video's UK operations purchased First Independent's assets and remaining library shortly afterwards and folded the theatrical and home video divisions under their banner. Sony continued to use First Independent as a secondary brand for its archived titles on VHS and DVD, although no new products were released under the name.
The First Independent Films company itself remained as a "dormant company" and was relocated toThe London Studios, the headquarters ofITV plc until being folded on 20 December 2016.[4]
Films distributed theatrically by First Independent Films include:
1991:
1992:
1993:
1994:
1995:
1996:
1997:
1998
1999:
 | This article about a British film distributor or production company is astub. You can help Wikipedia byexpanding it. |