 After its world premiere at the Telluride Film Festival and later screenings at the Toronto International Film Festival and the London Film Festival, "Slumdog Millionaire" had a nationwide release in the United Kingdom on 9 January 2009, in India on 23 January 2009, and in the United States on 25 December 2008.Regarded as a sleeper hit, "Slumdog Millionaire" was widely acclaimed, being praised for its plot, soundtrack, direction, and performances (especially Patel's).It was nominated for ten Academy Awards in 2009 and won eightthe most for any 2008 filmincluding Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Adapted Screenplay.