When Bill Clinton watched Dev Patel's film

Here's what happened when the former American President attended the premiere of Lion in New York City.

Even for a film that has received Oscar buzz from the moment it premiered, a nod from an American President can be very special.

Just ask Dev Patel.

Former US President Bill Clinton attended the New York City premiere of the Slumdog Millionaire star's latest film, Lion.

Lion, adapted from Saroo Brierley's memoir, A Long Way Home, is a touching account of an Indian-born adoptee's search to find his birth family.

The premiere marked Clinton's first high-profile appearance since wife Hillary Clinton's loss in the presidential election.

Bill Clinton at Lion premiere

IMAGE: Bill Clinton, third from right, poses with the stars of Lion -- from right, Dev Patel, Priyanka Bose and child actor Sunny Pawar, Sunny's father Dilip Pawar, producer Harvey Weinstein and his wife designer Georgina Chapman.
Clinton attended the premiere at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City as Weinstein's guest.
Photograph: Lion Movie/Twitter.com

· Will Lion win an Oscar?

Dev Patel, Sunny Pawar and Saroo Brierley

IMAGE: From left, actors Dev Patel and Sunny Pawar with Saroo Brierley.
Pawar and Patel play the young and old Saroo in the movie. Photograph: Lion Movie/Twitter.com

Sunny Pawar

IMAGE: Sunny, who charmed red carpet watchers, was initially denied a US visa.
It led to a three-week effort -- including the Weinstein Company appealing to Homeland Security and the State Department -- to get him to the US in time for the premiere.
Photograph: Lion Movie/Twitter.com

· When Priyanka Bose got everyone talking

Cast of Lion