Documentary company Dogwoof has handled worldwide sales of “The Last Spy,” a biopic of CIA spymaster Peter Sichel, who turns 102 today.
The film was written and directed by Katharina Otto-Bernstein, who earned Emmy nominations as one of the producers of “Mapplethorpe: Look at the Pictures” and “The Price of Everything.” Dugoff was attached to both films. Otto-Bernstein most recently served as a producer on “Joyland,” which won the Jury Prize at Cannes, and was an executive producer on Paul Schrader’s “Oh, Canada,” which premiered at Cannes.
The Last Spy examines the history of the CIA from the perspective of an insider. Sichel reveals the roots of the conflicts that rage in the world today and the toll that espionage has taken on his own life. A German Jew, Sichel has had a dramatic journey from escaping fascism to his career at the CIA. He tells his story with great wit and humor.
The documentary, which is in post-production, includes exclusive access to Seychelles himself, as well as his family, Pulitzer Prize-winning Watergate journalist Carl Bernstein, and several prominent political reporters.
Dogwoof plans to release the film in early 2025.
“I am happy to be able to tell my long life in this film,” said Seychelles. “I have lived through the horrors and wonders of the past 100 years and I hope the world learns to live more rationally in order to survive.”
“Peter tells his life with brilliance and a wicked sense of humor, while delving into the world of foreign intervention and secret intelligence with well-deserved authority,” said Otto Bernstein. “At 102, he is the last living witness to the origins of many of our current political and social conflicts, and the crucial link between the past and the present. Working with Peter is a privilege, an education, and an unforgettable experience. Happy birthday, my dear friend. And many more.”
Producers are Film Manufacturers and KJ Entertainment Production, in association with Schenk Productions, Drymen Pictures, Mass Distraction Media and Hangtime International Pictures.
Music composed by David Benjamin Steinberg. Film edited by Matthew Cohen. Cinematography by James Carman.
Co-producer is Federica Belletti, executive producers are Simon Kilmurry, Frida Torresblanco and David Dinnerstein. Produced by Oleg Dobson, Sabine Schenk, Otto Bernstein and Catherine Lohmann.
