Mamitas (2011)

Beautifully shot in Echo Park and against Los Angeles' downtown skyline, this beguiling coming-of-age romance introduces two phenomenal young actors in EJ Bonilla and Veronica Diaz-Carranza. At school, Jordin (Bonilla) is a cocky but charming Latino firebrand; at home he is a doting grandson who can't seem to please his perpetually cranky father. On the day he's suspended for insulting a teacher, Jordin meets Felipa (Diaz-Carranza), a bookish, no-nonsense New York girl who sees past the swaggering facade. The two immediately embark on an unlikely friendship that inspires Jordin to find out who he really is.

Director: Nicholas Ozeki
Writer: Nicholas Ozeki
Stars: Josue Aguirre, Maynor Alvarado and Pedro Armendáriz Jr.