Comic-Con Museum in San Diego shines the spotlight on Filipino action-comedy film

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When lumpia isn’t just food, apparently, it can be a film that packs a punchline. Enter “Lumpia with a Vengeance,” a Filipino action comedy film set to conquer the stage at Comic-Con Museum in San Diego.

While lumpia always gets its share of fame expanding from food to the film just as how a “Giant Size Lumpia” series launched at New York Comic Con, “Lumpia with a Vengeance” is getting a proper nod at the haven for pop culture enthusiasts.

Comic-Con Museum in Balboa Park that once echoed with the feats of Starship Enterprise and Batman is shining the spotlight on another superhero – this time of Filipino descent.

This four-year-old Filipino action-comedy film is a sequel to Patricio Ginelsa’s 2003 indie film, “Lumpia.” It was a cult classic featuring students in a Filipino high school in the Bay Area surviving their daily lives with bullies. 

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Fast-forward to 2020 and the sequel was released making waves in the cinematic scene. In 2022, this Filipino action comedy film became the first one to screen at San Diego’s Comic Con.

The movie came back last year, solidifying its place in the comic-con scene and this year Comic-Con Museum celebrates “Lumpia with a Vengeance” displaying the film’s costumes and art from a partner comic book.

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On Saturday, this event also marks the Filipino action comedy film’s Blu-ray and DVD release. They will also hold panel discussions with the film’s cast and crew — with signing in the museum’s gift shop and naturally, lumpias from the Gaslamp Lumpia factory.

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The film’s writer, director and producer, Patricio Ginelsa sees this event as proof of the film’s success and a nod to San Diego’s support. “To have Comic-Con Museum host our home video release is a fitting conclusion to our journey,” Ginelsa reflects with pride.

This event will commence at 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 27. Seats are limited and are available on a first-come first-serve basis. For tickets and an experience of this Filipino action comedy film, visit comic-conmusuem.org.