Germany's H5B5 Media is teaming up with best-selling writer Stephen Smith to set up a joint company to co-produce a screen adaptation of Smith's autobiographical novel, Addict.

Veteran UK director Nicolas Roeg is attached to direct the story of Smith's 25-year descent into drugs and drink. H5B5 also announced in Cannes that it will co-produce Anthony and Joe Russo's heist picture, Welcome To Collinwood, with Pandora and Section 8.

Back in Germany, H5B5 plans to move into exhibition by taking over Munich's Forum of Technology, a centre which houses an IMAX cinema, two other screens and an exhibition space. H5B5 produces popular science programme Timeslot (Welt Der Wunder) and recently premiered its IMAX film OceanMen at the Euromax in Paris.