FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NEW YORK, LOS ANGELES, LONDON and TOKYO
Some artists follow the script. Others write the spell. Sidow Sobrino, has added another cinematic distinction to his expanding creative universe as his supernatural dance-pop production, “Under Your Spell,” wins Best Pop Music Video at the Los Angeles Short Film Awards October 2026 competition. Written, directed, and performed by The World’s No.1 Superstar®, the award-winning visual brings theatrical extravagance, dark fantasy, and an unmistakable appetite for spectacle into the international independent film arena.
Presented under the Best Film Awards organization, the Los Angeles Short Film Awards features an international judging panel with professional backgrounds spanning Hollywood, streaming television, and award-recognized cinema. Among its judges are Kotaro Sakai, a Netflix series producer; Ornella Hawthorn Gardez, a BAFTA-accredited director whose work has screened at BAFTA and Oscar®-qualifying festivals; Paolo Di Maio, whose credits include the Oscar-nominated City of God; and Maxine De Vere, a producer associated with the cult classic Sexy Beast and formerly of the BBC. Their collective experience brings an international industry perspective to the competition.
The October 2026 winners represent a cross-section of international filmmaking. Quinn Wolverton earned Best Feature Film and Best Director Feature Film for James, while Mary Apick received Best Feature Documentary for Jewel of the Desert. Mitsuo Kurihara secured Best Indie Feature Film for Shimo-Mizuno Meeting Hall, and Finise Avery claimed Best Short Film for Desperately Seeking Commitment. In the music video categories, Edward B. Kessel won Best Music Video for Not Today Billy, while Sidow Sobrino's “Under Your Spell” took Best Pop Music Video, placing his production among the competition's recognized international works.
Inside the world of “Under Your Spell,” seduction becomes a supernatural power struggle. Sobrino embodies The Supreme Sorcerer, a commanding figure presiding over a mysterious séance where ancient forces are summoned and prospective heirs compete for a place within his empire. At his side stands Balthazar, the Royal Butler, portrayed by Richard Sidow-Sobrino, whose presence adds another dimension to the production's theatrical mythology. “There are beautiful faces everywhere. Worthiness is another matter entirely.” Set within the imagined glamour of Miami Beach and filmed in Laguna Beach, California, the visual combines ritualistic imagery, hypnotic electronic rhythms, and cinematic fantasy.
Driven by a pulsating 145 BPM electronic dance-pop arrangement, “Under Your Spell” extends the musical and visual universe of Sobrino's studio album Seminal. The victory adds another distinction to his growing portfolio of international film festival recognition, reinforcing a creative identity that moves between songwriting, screen performance, production, and elaborate cinematic storytelling. Distributed worldwide through S & S Digital Records and The Orchard (Sony Music), the single and music video reflect an independent artistic vision where music and moving images operate as one.
For Sidow Sobrino, the crown is more than a costume. It is an identity carried from one production to the next, where fantasy becomes authority and every new chapter expands the mythology of The World’s No.1 Superstar®.
The official October 2026 award results are available through the Best Film Awards Winners Directory. “Under Your Spell” can be streamed worldwide across major digital music platforms. Additional music, videos, and entertainment news are available at SidowSobrino.net