National Film Development Corporation’s next, a highly acclaimed, Hindi feature Island City, is slated for a  Pan-India theatrical release on September 2, 2016. The film had its World Premiere at the 72nd Venice Film Festival 2015 in the Venice Days section, where it won the FEDEORA Award for Best Debut Director.

The directorial debut of Ruchika Oberoi stars Vinay Pathak, Tannishtha Chatterjee, Amruta Subhash and Chandan Roy Sanyal. It had its World Premiere at the 72nd Venice Film Festival 2015 in the Venice Days section, where it won the FEDEORA Award for Best Debut Director. The film was selected at 26 International Film Festivals and won top awards at 5 festivals. The film connects three stories, two black comedies and a tragi-comic tale of love showing an ever-changing city in a time of uneasy transition.

Nina Lath Gupta, Managing Director NFDC says, “Island City came to NFDC as part of Screenwriters Lab and was also selected at the Film Bazaar. We are happy to nurture the film right from the script stage, produce it and now bring its exciting journey to a logical end by releasingit.”

 “This is NFDC’s second feature after Vees Mhanje Vees to be releasing this year and we are planning to release two more films in the near future” Ms. Gupta adds.

Excited about the release, Ruchika Oberoi says, “ISLAND CITY has had an incredible festival journey so far but there is no greater joy than having one’s film release at home. This is now becoming a reality due to the efforts of NFDC which has nurtured this film every step of the way – from script stage through production and now to release. With the support of Drishyam Films, who are on board as distribution partners, we hope to have a substantial  theatrical presence and reach out to audiences across several cities.”

Island City follows three comic-dramatic stories set in Mumbai. The first is about a diligent office worker who wins the office ‘Fun Committee Award’, which entitles him to a whole day full of fun. He is most reluctant to leave the safety of his cubicle but he has to. Prescribed fun modules have to be completed and non-compliance is not an option.

The second story begins with a domineering head-of-the-family, Anil, who is on life support. Seeking some relief, his family decides to buy a TV, which Anil had banned. Now every night the family plugs into a popular soap whose hero, Purshottam, is a man ideal in every way and they are smitten. Then suddenly, comes the news that Anil is better and may be home soon. Will they have to let Purshottam go? The third one centers on Aarti whose repetitive existence is slowly making her more and more mechanical and numb. Deep inside ferments a disconnect and unease that she is unable to articulate to anyone. Then one day there arrives a most intimate letter and everything changes.

Here’s the trailer –