Focus Features International (FFI) will handle worldwide sales on the new documentary from Senna and The Warrior director Asif Kapadia and will kick off pre-sales next month in Cannes.

Kapadia’s untitled documentary on the five-time Grammy-winner will feature previously unseen archive footage and seek to tell the London performer’s tragic story in her own words.

James Gay-Rees will produce through Playmaker Films, Gay-Rees and Kapadia’s new production entity and Universal Music is on board as co-producer.

London-born Winehouse died from alcoholic poisoning in July 2011 at the age of 27.

“This is an incredibly modern, emotional and relevant film that has the power to capture the zeitgeist and shine a light on the world we live in, in a way that very few films can,” said Kapadia and Gay-Rees.

“Amy was a once-in-a-generation talent who captured everyone’s attention. She wrote and sung from the heart and everyone fell under her spell.

“But tragically Amy seemed to fall apart under the relentless media attention, her troubled relationships, her global success and precarious lifestyle. As a society we celebrated her huge success but then we were quick to judge her failings when it suited us.”

FFI co-president Alison Thompson said: “Asif and James have the remarkable ability to bring a moving and thought-provoking story to life, as evidenced by Senna. We look forward to seeing their vision of Amy Winehouse.”

FFI’s slate include Mike Leigh’s JMW Turner biopic, Jeremy Renner thriller Kill The Messenger and Woody Allen’s Blue Jasmine starring Cate Blanchett and Alec Baldwin.

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