1) Official Selections will be announced and published on our social media sites and website.
2) Only BAP America judges have access to submissions.
3) All votes are recorded privately.
4) All entries are to be submitted via FilmFreeway for the Feature Film.
5) Do not send discs or downloadable files.
6) Winners will be announced on the date listed, as it is determined.
7) By submitting to the festival, you confirm that you own the rights to the film and accept all the Rules & Terms.
8) Festival maintains the right to change the submission genre should the festival find the submission is better suited elsewhere.
9) The same film may be submitted under different genres.
10) Festival has the right to publicly use snippets, sequences, and still images from the submitted material with music & sound to share on print, social media, and our website as well as share the IMDb data of the associated industry members.
11) No submission may be withdrawn after its participation has been publicized.
12) All winners are responsible for admission, transportation and lodging to the show.
13) All finalists must attend the Nomination Meeting which explains logistics.
14) All entries MUST have all of the following to enter; Must be a Texas or Missouri or Indiana-based film, Texas or Missouri based Lead Actors, Texas or Missouri or Indiana Location, Texas or Missouri or Indiana Producer, Texas or Missouri or Indiana Director, and a Texas or Missouri or Indiana Head Writer. The theme is Based on the Menoring and connection of Danny McQ and Steve McQueen having both followed the path of Indiana, Missouri, Texas along the way in the process of the film, assisting in the promotion of alternative addiction support processes. Correlation of the Dan McQueen Triumph Rocket III motorcycle and the Steve McQueen Bullitt automotive. IT is artist interpretation. No Guidance will be provided in creation.
15) Submissions have to have been completed within the time period of this festival. Start July 4th 2025, Ending November 7th 2025. Note the date of Steve McQueen’s passing.
16) If we do not have enough entries in a category, BAP America reserves the right to remove that category from the current year awards and refund the submitter or determine if they qualify to enter in another category. If the Festival does not have enough entries, the Cash prize will be eliminated.
Feature Films must be 60:00 – 90 minutes to enter the competition. There is no lower limit or higher limit on run time.
Films will be shown to our independent panel of judges.
All films will be screened via DCP files. We will also require .mov, mp4, or equivalent as a backup.
For cash prizes, unless we are informed otherwise, cash awards will be made to the Director of the film. The Director will be responsible for deciding how, if at all, the cash prize is distributed to stakeholders in the film. To receive a cash award, the filmmaker must have a means of receiving funds by electronic transfer. Filmmakers will be responsible for any taxation due on funds received.
BAP America will not be responsible for any custom duties or charges on physical submission.
The festival handles submitted physical screening files with the utmost of care and provides insurance of loss or damage to a maximum value of US$100.00 (or cost of replacement, whichever is less).
Permission for the festival to use images and excerpts of each submitted film for promotional purposes is considered granted upon acceptance into the physical screenings at the festival - including trailers/clips on the festival's media channels. For selected films, BAP America reserves the right to complete any information not supplied by the filmmaker from whatever source available and/or re-write material to fit our marketing requirement.
By submitting your film to the festival you agree that if your film is selected for inclusion in our screenings, we have permission to screen it in a cinema during the dates of the events listed. If you do not want your film included for any reason you must inform us within 5 working days of the final submission deadline. Films can only be withdrawn after this number of days with agreement from the festival organizers as we invest in print materials and trailers for the festival, which cannot be changed in the immediate run up to the event. Entry fee is not refundable.
Financial assistance for travel is not provided.
There are no screening fees available, to be paid to filmmakers.
The submission fee does not include an event ticket fee if selected. Submission fees and event ticket fees are separate. There are no filmmaker passes.
Submission of films and participation in Danny McQ Film Festival implies understanding and acceptance of the above regulations and requirements for this submission. If in doubt about any of the above, please contact bapamericapartners @ gmail and ask questions before submitting.
BAP AMERICA reserves the right to adjust details including location, date, and processes regarding the BAP AMERICA Film Festival. Thank you for reading this far!
In Addition:
Official Rules & Guidelines – Danny McQ Film Contest
1. Purpose & Eligibility
• The Danny McQ Film Contest is dedicated to education and the development of the film and technology industry.
• Open only to U.S. citizens.
• Participants must be at least 18 years old or provide parental/guardian consent.
• Entries must be original works and must not infringe on copyrights or trademarks.
• Filmmakers and writers retain rights to their work but grant BAP America a non-exclusive license to promote and showcase submitted works.
2. Entry Fees & Tax Deductibility
• This contest is organized by BAP America, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
• All entry fees are tax-deductible donations and will support nonprofit initiatives in film, education, and community development.
• Entry fees are non-refundable and must be submitted as follows:
o Phase 1 – Script Contest: $10 donation; One prize of $500
o Phase 2 – Short Film Contest: $27 donation; One prize of $1000
o Phase 3 – Feature Film Submission: $50 donation; One prize of $5000 CASH!
3. Submission Guidelines
Phase 1 – Script Contest
• Scripts must be for a short film (20 minutes or less) centered on Danny McQ, inspired by Steve McQueen’s action legacy.
• The adventures of Danny McQ are based on real-life experiences of Danny McQueen, a Navy SAR rescue swimmer, and his study of Steve McQueen’s films and storytelling style.
• Scripts must be in standard screenplay format (PDF, 12pt Courier font).
• Opening starts: February 14, 2025.
• Submission Deadline: March 24, 2025 (Postmarked by Steve McQueen’s Birthday)
• Mail Submission To:
BAP America
1102 Leopard St.
Corpus Christi, TX 78401
• Required Materials:
o Printed script copy
o Self-addressed stamped envelope (for response)
o Entry fee (donation) receipt or check made payable to BAP America
Phase 2 – Short Film Contest
• Short films must be 20 minutes to 40 minutes, inspired by the Danny McQ novels and Steve McQueen-style action.
• Films must be submitted in MP4 or MOV format with minimum 1080p resolution.
• Opening Date: May 14, 2025
• Submission Deadline: August 2025 (Danny McQ Novel Release Date)
• Entry Fee: $27 donation to BAP America
• Additional submission guidelines and upload portal details will be provided after script selection.
Phase 3 – Feature Film Submissions
• Feature-length films must be at least 60 minutes to 90 minutes long and align with the action, adventure, and character-driven storytelling of Danny McQ.
• Films must be submitted in MP4 or MOV format, minimum 1080p resolution.
• Open Date: July 4, 2025
• Submission Deadline: November 7, 2025
• Entry Fee: $50 donation to BAP America
• Additional submission guidelines and upload portal details will be announced later.
4. Prizes & Awards
• Best Script: $500 Prize
• Best Short Film: $1,000 Prize
• Best Feature Film: $5,000 Prize
• Additional recognition and industry exposure for feature film winners.
• Selected short and feature films may be screened at a festival event (TBD).
5. Judging Criteria
Entries will be evaluated based on:
• Creativity & Originality – How well does the work capture action and storytelling in the spirit of Steve McQueen?
• Writing & Structure – Does the script/film effectively develop plot and characters?
• Cinematography & Production Value (for films) – How well is the film executed visually and technically?
• Engagement & Impact – Does the story resonate with audiences and keep them on edge?
6. Legal & Copyright Guidelines
• Entrants must own all rights to their submissions.
• No copyrighted music, clips, or content without proper licensing.
• Submissions must not contain obscene, defamatory, or hate-driven content.
• McQueen Entertainment Studios & BAP America reserve the right to disqualify any entry that violates these guidelines.
• Any legal action or claims related to submissions are the sole responsibility of the contestants.
7. Rights & Permissions
• Participants retain full ownership of their work.
• By entering, participants grant BAP America & McQueen Entertainment Studios the non-exclusive right to showcase winning scripts and films at events, promotional screenings, and media coverage.
• Winners may be invited to industry opportunities, film festivals, or project collaborations.
8. Right to Modify or Cancel
• BAP America & McQueen Entertainment Studios reserve the right to modify or cancel the contest at any time due to unforeseen circumstances, legal concerns, or other factors.
• Changes to deadlines, prizes, or screening events will be communicated in advance.
9. Use of Steve McQueen’s Name
• Steve McQueen is an icon, and his name is a patented and trademarked property.
• This contest is purely a tribute to Steve McQueen’s legacy.
• BAP America & McQueen Entertainment Studios hold no rights to Steve McQueen’s name or likeness.
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Ready to Enter?
Submit your script by March 24, 2025, and start your journey toward winning $1,000 and industry recognition! Stay updated by following [Your Website/Social Media Links].
This is your chance to bring high-intensity action to the screen. Join Danny McQ’s tribute to Steve McQueen!
