Genre Filmmaking Group RKSS Issues First Public Statement Following François Simard’s Removal Amid Child Sexual Assault Accusations
François Simard, a former member of the Canadian filmmaking collective RKSS (Roadkill Superstars), has been removed from the group following allegations that he sexually assaulted two minors. In a statement provided to Dread Central, remaining RKSS members Anouk Whissell and Yoann-Karl Whissell confirmed Simard’s removal and announced that he has also been taken off the credits of their latest feature, Wake Up, which opened in theaters on April 4, 2025, via Blue Fox Entertainment. (Dread Central previously reviewed the film and interviewed the Whissell siblings before its release.)
The allegations were first reported by La Presse, which revealed that Simard was arrested in October 2024 and now faces four charges, including sexual assault and sexual interference with a child under 16. According to court records cited by La Presse, the alleged victims were between the ages of 9 and 11. Screen Anarchy also published a brief article about the arrest at the time.
The duo’s official statement reads:
“Due to health issues, François was not involved in the filming of Wake Up. As of last year, in light of the allegations, François is no longer part of RKSS, and the two of us are continuing as a directing duo.”
The alleged incidents occurred between March and June 2024 after Wake Up had its world premiere in 2023. In a statement issued by the film’s production company, Borsalino Productions—which appears below in full and has not previously been published online—it is noted that Simard has not yet stood trial.
Simard was one-third of the RKSS collective, alongside siblings Anouk Whissell and Yoann-Karl Whissell. The group directed genre films, including Turbo Kid (released by Dread, a sister company to Dread Central), Summer of ’84, and We Are Zombies.
Simard has since been removed from the Wake Up IMDb page as a director, though he remains credited as an editor. He also lists Wake Up among his projects in his Instagram bio.
If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, help is available. You can call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800-656-HOPE (4673), or you can use their online chat hotline. More resources are available through RAINN.
The full statement from Borsalio Productions:
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