In 2026, the cinematic landscape has shifted. Audiences are no longer just looking for stories; they are seeking the distinct fingerprints of the "Auteur Director"—visionaries who command every frame. At the forefront of this movement is Anmol Mishra, whose feature film Romancing Sydney has evolved from a festival secret to a globally recognized piece of expressive art.

We sat down with Mishra to discuss his decade-long journey and the unique aesthetic that defines his latest work.

ArtDaily: Romancing Sydney is being hailed for its singular vision. How do you define your aesthetic as a director?

Anmol Mishra: My aesthetic is rooted in the "universal rhythm" of emotion. I don't see narrative and art as separate entities. For me, Sydney isn't just a setting; it’s a living co-star. Whether it’s using custom-built backyard camera rigs or experimenting with DSLR technology from the early 2010s to find that specific "dreamy" look, every technical choice is personal.

ArtDaily: The film has been described as a "visual love letter." How much of your personal journey is in this film?

Mishra: It’s a project 15 years in the making. I originally conceived it in 2010 as Fountains. My journey from Brisbane to the international stage—including our reception at the Jagran Film Festival—has been about proving that independent creators can produce high-brow, stylized art without massive studio backing. I even stepped in front of the camera as Sachin, playing a "bad dancer" until the fantasy sequences allowed me to reveal my true movements.

ArtDaily: You’ve integrated six intricate dance routines into a romantic drama. Where did that inspiration come from?

Mishra: I drew significant inspiration from Indian cinema and the way Bollywood uses dance to express the "inner worlds" of characters. In Romancing Sydney, these aren't just performances; they are "flights of fancy". We used everything from specialized VFX for Bolero sequences to long rubber hoses as circular camera tracks in Hyde Park to capture that fluidity.

ArtDaily: The film is now accessible to everyone. How does it feel to see your "auteur" vision reach a mass audience?

Mishra: It’s incredibly rewarding. We wanted to challenge the "culture vulture" crowd with something sophisticated, but I also wanted it to be accessible. Seeing it go from exclusive screenings to platforms like Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and Google Play means the conversation we started in Sydney can now happen anywhere.

Experience the Vision

Romancing Sydney is currently streaming on Amazon, Apple TV, and Google Play.