Entertainment Film Distributors

Background
Entertainment Film Distributors is a British distributor of independent films in the UK and Ireland, started in 1978 and owned by Nigel Green. Their home entertainment division is named Entertainment in Video. They are notable for distributing New Line Cinema titles in the UK from 1990-2010. In 2010, the distribution rights were handed over to New Line's parent, Warner Bros.

1st (known) Logo (1978-1986)
Logo: On a black background, we see four copies of the multicolored word "ENTERTAINMENT" move towards the center in different directions. One copy of the word remains after the others reach the center. The white text "FILM DISTRIBUTORS LIMITED" fades in beneath "ENTERTAINMENT". "PRESENTATION" does the same beneath "FILM DISTRIBUTORS LIMITED".

Technique: 2D animation.

Music/Sounds: A bombastic fanfare.

Availability: Extremely rare. Seen on earlier UK releases from the company such as Going Steady.

2nd Logo (1987-2003)
Logo: We see a close-up of continuously moving water. "Serif" in a metallic font in the same color as the moving water emerges from said water. We zoom out to reveal that the water is a rectangle, and the animation of the moving water freezes for a moment. As we zoom out, two abstract F's of and yellow appear from the left side of the screen. A yellow line emerges from the right side of the screen above "Serif". Another yellow line appears from the top of the screen and rests above the rectangle. Two more yellow lines appear from the bottom of the screen and rest alongside the rectangle. The stacked words "Serif" are revealed on the rectangle. The two F's rest below "Serif" and the rectangle flashes at the screen and the animation of the moving water resumes.

Technique: Computer animation.

Music/Sounds: None. Sometimes, the music from the Entertainment in Video logo is heard.

Availability: Uncommon in the UK, bordering to extremely rare in the U.S.
 * Appears on UK export prints of films such as The Piano, The Legend of 1900, and Highlander II, among others.
 * This can also be found on a French iTunes print of Super Mario Bros (1993).
 * If you go to see a 35mm screening of a film released by EFD between 1987-2003, this will mostly likely appear before it, having been spotted before a screening of The Mask, though certain films do not have it, such as Much Ado About Nothing.

3rd Logo (4th Logo prototype) (1995-2003)


Logo: On a grainy blue background, there's an inverted abstract "F" casting a shadow. The underlined text "ENTERTAINMENT FILM DISTRIBUTION" in a 3D fashion appears superimposed on the symbol, followed by "PRESENTS" placed below the name. The logo fades to black slowly.

Technique: 2D animation.

Music/Sounds: None.

Availability: Rare.
 * This was used as an alternative logo on UK prints of movies like The Long Kiss Goodnight.
 * It also appeared on early movies made by EFD like Rancid Aluminium and Before you go (2002).
 * It could be considered as a prototype for the next logo.

4th Logo (November 14, 2003-2007)
Logo: Same as the Entertainment In Video logo, but the abstract "F" from before, this time in purple, is used and the words "IN VIDEO" are replaced with "FILM DISTRIBUTORS".

Technique: Same as the Entertainment in Video logo.

Music/Sounds: None or the opening/closing theme of the film.

Availability: Uncommon in the UK, but very rare (at least) in the U.S.
 * Can be seen on UK prints of films from 2003-2007, such as Saw, Elf, and Wedding Crashers, among others.
 * Also appears at the end of (Alex Rider: Operation) Stormbreaker.

5th Logo (2007-)
Logo: Against a black background, we see an outline of a glass abstract "F" shining. The "F" then appears in and with no glass, and turns a bit, casting a reflection at the bottom. Then, the words "Impact" shine in at the same angle as the triangle.

Technique: CGI.

Music/Sounds: A short synth entry with two ding sounds. Sometimes, it's silent or the opening theme of the movie.

Availability: Currently in use on UK prints of 2007-present films.
 * Also seen at the end of Wild Target.
 * It also appears plastering older logos when EFD re-release their films; for example, it was seen on the 2015 re-release of Brokeback Mountain.