Melbourne, May 15 Filmmaker Justin Sisely is getting death threats over the posters he has put up in Sydney offering virgins 20,000 dollars to appear in his documentary.

The image the Melbourne-based filmmaker has selected to describe his controversial project features the Virgin Mary with male genitalia on her forehead.

"I expected some backlash. But I didn't expect death threats," the Herald Sun.

However, Sisely has challenged his critics to meet with him face to face.

"I'm happy to talk to them. To have a debate. I don't want apathy. But be a man about it. Don't ring up and leave an anonymous message," he said.

Sisely, who is in Sydney to audition prospective subjects for his proposed documentary, plans to pay each of the two successful applicants - one man and one woman - 20,000 dollars to auction their virginity online. He will document the process.

Sisely describes the fee, which is coming out of his own pocket, as an "incentive" for people to come forward.

"It's a controversial topic and the process will be pretty invasive," he said. (ANI)