Amy Winehouse's life story is to be retold on film after her family gave permission for a production team to start work on a biopic.

This summer will mark two years since the singer was found dead in her Camden home, after a widely reported battle with alcohol and drug abuse. A film telling her story, including tracing her career highs with the albums Back to Black and Frank, is set to be shown to industry executives at the Cannes Film Festival next month.

The Winehouse family were initially reluctant to endorse the project, but have now given their approval and chosen a Bafta-recognised director to make the film.

Asif Kapadia was honoured at the Baftas for the documentary film Senna, about Brazilian motor-racing legend Ayrton Senna.

Mr Kapadia described Ms Winehouse, who was 27 when she died, as a "once-in-a-generation talent", in a joint statement with producer James Gay-Rees.

They added: "She wrote and sung from the heart."

"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."

Mr Gay-Rees also produced Exit Through the Gift Shop, about the street artist Bansky.