Crowne Plaza Johannesburg – The Rosebank recently played host to a glitzy cocktail party to celebrate the premiere of the blockbuster movie District 9 by South African-born Canadian writer and director Neill Blomkamp. The cream of the country’s celebrities from sport to television and film together with the cast and crew gathered at the trendy hotel, for what turned out to be its biggest cocktail party to date.

The premiere was held at The Zone in Rosebank with all eight cinemas booked out for the screening which was attended by more than 1000 people. The hotel’s Fresh restaurant and stylish Circle Bar hosted the 800 strong party, with the media swarming the venue, taking pictures and holding interviews Hollywood style. It was truly a red carpet affair, with celebrities shuttled in Jaguars.

District 9 depicts a fictional world where extraterrestrials have become refugees in South Africa. The film became an instant hit late last week when it opened in the US, where it unexpectedly racked in a whopping US$37 million. The film opens nationwide on 28 August.