First Independent Films was a British film distributor and home video company that replaced Vestron Video International's UK operations.
History
Vestron Video formed their international division Vestron Video International in 1981, including a UK subsidiary. In May 1990, HTV, the ITV franchise holder for Wales and the West of England, acquired Vestron UK and renamed the company to First Independent Films.
Although a small film company, the company distributed a wide selection of genres. The company's main third-party partner was Turner Entertainment Co., with First Independent distributing products from Castle Rock Entertainment, Turner Pictures Worldwide Distribution, Hanna-Barbera Cartoons and select New Line Cinema releases (alternating with their main UK partner Entertainment Film Distributors). First Independent also distributed local and independent films.
The company began to meet its demise after Turner Entertainment Co. was sold to Time Warner in 1996 and Warner Bros. took over distribution of Turner's properties from them, aside from New Line Cinema releases which reverted fully to Entertainment Film Distributors.