ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Simone Ashley’s ‘This Tempting Madness’ to screen at Cinequest
Inspired by a true story, the story explores themes of memory, perception, and domestic conflict.
-
Malvika Choudhary - Fri, 13, Mar 2026
- 16:37 EDT
- 14
Simone Ashley in the film / Still from the film
The psychological thriller ‘This Tempting Madness,' starring British Indian actress Simone Ashley, will have its North American premiere at the Cinequest Film and Creativity Festival in Silicon Valley on March 14.
Directed by Jennifer E. Montgomery in her feature debut, the film follows Mia, played by Ashley, who wakes from a coma with fragmented memories and attempts to piece together the events that left her injured while her husband remains missing.
Also Read: Khushboo Sundar on Vijay Trisha controversy: It is their personal life
In This Tempting Madness, Ashley leads an ensemble cast that includes Indian American actor Amol Shah and Indian actor Suraj Sharma, along with Austin Stowell, Mojean Aria, and Zenobia Shroff.
Ashley gained international recognition for portraying Kate Sharma in the Netflix series Bridgerton and previously appeared in Sex Education. Sharma first gained international attention with his debut in the Academy Award–winning film Life of Pi (2012), directed by Ang Lee, which earned him a nomination for the BAFTA Rising Star Award. He later appeared in the television series Homeland and starred in the CBS comedy-drama God Friended Me.
Shah, an Indian American actor working in film and television in the United States, has appeared in series including The Dropout and WeCrashed.
Montgomery described the project as deeply personal. “It’s been such a long journey, bringing this intensely personal story to life,” she said. “I’m so honored to be able to share the hard work of my very talented cast and crew with audiences at such an incredible festival.”
The film is produced by Andrew M. Davis of Smoke Jumper Films alongside William Day Frank. Principal photography took place in Los Angeles in 2024.
The first screening is scheduled for March 14 at 7:10 p.m., followed by a post-film question-and-answer session. A second screening will be held on March 17 at the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema in Mountain View, California.
Founded in 1990, Cinequest is an annual film festival held in San Jose and Mountain View, California, showcasing independent films and emerging voices in cinema.
Discover more at New India Abroad.
Related
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
E Paper
Video
Comments
Start the conversation
Become a member of New India Abroad to start commenting.
Sign Up Now
Already have an account? Login