Police in Georgia said Saturday they had arrested more than 25 people after ultra-nationalist protesters attempting to derail the premiere of an award-winning movie about gay love clashed with security forces.

A few hundred demonstrators blocked the road outside a cinema in the capital¡¯s city center Friday ahead of the first screening of ¡°And Then We Danced,¡± which tells the story of two young male Georgian ballet dancers falling in love.

Chanting ¡°Long live Georgia¡± and ¡°Shame¡± the protesters ¡ª some holding crosses and religious icons ¡ª tried to force their way inside the cinema but where held back by riot police.