Quinceanera comes to DVD January 7

After taking part in her cousin's quinceanera, the Mexican coming-of-age celebration marking a girl's 15th birthday, Magdalena (Emily Rios) begins dreaming about her own upcoming celebration. Quinceanera is a story about Magdalena, whose parents run a storefront church in Echo Park (a predominantly Latino Los Angeles neighborhood in transition) and her unrealistic expectations--stunning gown, Hummer limousine, fancy party--for her own imminent ceremony.

But her family's struggling financial situation isn't the only obstacle: Months before her own party, Magdalena discovers that she is pregnant by her boyfriend. Forced out of the house by her religious father, she moves in with her great-granduncle, Tomas (Chalo Gonzalez), who makes a living in the streets of Echo Park selling champurrado, a Mexican hot drink. As Magdalena struggles to redefine her notions of family and the future, Tomas battles with his new landlords, an affluent white gay couple at the forefront of the neighborhood's gentrification movement. Everyone's lives change when the landlords take a keen interest in Tomas's other houseguest, Magdalena's young handsome gay cousin, Carlos (Jesse Garcia), forced out of his own home after his father discovers he's gay.

Praised as "smart and warm-hearted" by The New York Times, Quinceanera won the Grand Jury Prize (Dramatic) and the Audience Award (Dramatic) at the 2006 Sundance Film Festival.