Feminist protesters lie down on red carpet at London premiere of Suffragette

Protesters laid down on the red carpet Credit: PA

Protesters jumped the barriers at the opening night of the film Suffragette at the BFI London Film Festival, to draw attention to domestic violence against women.

In a scene that perhaps echoes the film, the demonstrators from Sisters Uncut lay down on the red carpet, while actors in the film were giving interviews.

The crowd chanted "dead women can't vote", and some of the protesters carried posters that said "two women killed every week".

Others held banners with the words "50/50 Parliament", calling for equality in the British government.

"We are suffragettes," they shouted, and "Domestic violence cuts kill," referring to cuts to domestic abuse services.

Protesters drew attention to cuts to domestic abuse services Credit: PA

The new film, which tells the story of the British women's suffrage movement of the late 19th and early 20th century, stars Carey Mulligan, Meryl Streep and Anne-Marie Duff.

Helena Bonham Carter, who also stars in the film, applauded the protesters.

Romola Garai, who plays Alice Haughton, the wife of an MP, in the film, said: "I haven't spoken to them or seen their demands but I'm happy to see the suffrage movement is alive and happening."

Earlier at the film's press conference, Meryl Streep - who portrays Emmeline Pankhurst in the film - hit out at the male-dominated film-making industry, saying the inequality "infuriated" her.