Harvey Weinstein.
When it comes to glamorous black-tie events, Canberra is known only for one - the Press Gallery Midwinter Ball.
But as the capital prepares for an unprecedented onslaught of glittering celebrities of the non-royal, non-political variety later this month, the red carpet is being laid out for a springtime alternative.
At least, that's what the organisers of the inaugural Body of Work are hoping will become of the Virgin Ball, a glitzy party to honour Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein, that will be held on Saturday, November 23.
The event will see the man himself arriving in the capital for a weekend of events focusing on his 30-year career as a film producer, and he'll be bringing with him several of stars who owe their careers to his influence, including Guy Pearce, Geoffrey Rush and Rachel Griffiths.
Rush will be presenting Weinstein with the first Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts International Fellowship at the ball which, like the midwinter event, is being held in the Great Hall at Parliament House.
But Body of Work director Nicole Mitchell is keen to see as many Canberrans as possible - and not just dignitaries and industry-types - walk the carpet this year.
She said while some of the weekend's events were almost sold out, there were still plenty of tickets to the ball available, and, despite the hefty price tag, Ms Mitchell said it was an event designed to appeal to film buffs and those wanting to get close to the stars.
"We're trying to reinvent for the rest of Australia how Canberra's perceived on some level, bring glamour to town, all of those things, and I think it takes a few years for people to get what you're doing, that's understandable," she said.
"We want Canberrans to see this as their ball - we're hoping that in the future this becomes Canberra's springtime ball."
But she admitted it had been tricky putting together a program that would appeal to film-lovers without blinding them with the star power of someone like Weinstein.
She reiterated that all events over the weekend, including a masterclass with Weinstein and the Australian premiere of his film Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, are open to the public, and especially to Canberrans, as the majority of the tickets sold so far had been to out-of-towners.
Funds raised from the ball would be donated to the Motion Picture Industry Benevolent Society, a fund set up to help members of the film industry in times of need.
- Tickets to the ball, including a three-course meal, are $440. Visit www.bodyofwork.org.au for more information.
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