Winchester Films has closed a multi-territory deal with Sony Pictures Classics (SPC) on Fred Schepisi's Last Orders which had its world premiere at the recent Toronto International Film Festival. SPC bought the film for North America, Scandinavia, Latin America, Australia and New Zealand.

The film, which was well-received by critics and audiences at the festival, is based on the Booker Prize-winning novel by Graham Swift. It stars Michael Caine, Bob Hoskins, Helen Mirren, Ray Winstone, David Hemmings and Tom Courtenay in a story about four men honouring their friend's strange dying wish. The cast also includes newcomers JJ Feild, Kelly Reilly, Nolan Hemmings, Cameron Fitch and Anatol Yusef.

Last Orders was produced by Scala Productions in association with Germany's MBP. Winchester is handling international sales, with Metrodome handling UK distribution. Producers are Schepisi and Elisabeth Robinson, executive producers are Nik Powell, Rainer Mockert, Gary Smith and Chris Craib.

The deal was negotiated with SPC by Winchester CEO Gary Smith and senior vice president of international sales Andrew Brown. "SPC has just the right delicacy to handle this intelligently textured film and we are delighted to have them on board," said Brown.