In its first long-term deal outside the US since floating in May, Intermedia has struck an exclusive first-look pact with Kate Winslet and Jim Threapleton's UK-based production outfit Telltale Films.

UK and US-based Intermedia will handle worldwide distribution on films from the Shepperton Studios-based company, formed last year by the husband-and-wife team. Winslet will also star in and act as executive producer on Intermedia's Therese Raquin, which is expected to start filming next spring but is outside the development and production deal between Intermedia and Telltale.

Intermedia, which floated in Germany under the holding company of Internationalmedia, finalised a first-look pact with US producer Mark Johnson last month.

The partnership with Telltale comes after Winslet starred in Enigma for Intermedia and Jagged Films. Winslet, who formed Telltale with Threapleton to focus on UK and continental European projects, commented: "We are both enjoying exploring the exciting depth of writing on offer in the UK and believe we have a number of strong ideas that, with work, will make powerful films."

Intermedia co-chairman Guy East said of the Telltale deal: "This will help us work more closely with the wealth of young British and European writing, directing and acting talent."

Telltale is represented by Hilda Queally and Cassian Elwes at William Morris in Los Angeles and Dallas Smith of Peters Fraser Dunlop in London.