Now that there are close to 500 entries on the site, figuring out where to start can be a daunting task.

Over the last few weeks, I’ve been singling out a few entries of interest, both in my Spotlight posts about entries from particular countries, and in my CHOICE PICKS tweets on Twitter.

As a handy way to dive in, here’s a round-up of all of them. Hope you get a chance to check them out – and if you like them, don’t forget to vote!

UPDATE: These are just a few entries that I’ve singled out along the way as being worth checking out for one reason or another – they are in no way an indication of the judges’ decision on the five finalists.

L.A. resident Joe Case’s entry Friendly Competition pits a Maori canoeist and his waka (a traditional canoe) against a young kayaker and his own hi-tech vessel, set against a spectacular Queenstown backdrop.

Animators Cameron Baity and Benny Zelkowicz’s entry Play Time proposes an ambitious animated short using multiple actors to play the same characters at different ages, as the natural power of a New Zealand forest allows them to rediscover their lost youth.

Third Coast by Jared J. Jones, brings to life the transformative nature of a fish-out-of-water experience.

Nothing Gold Can Stay by recent film school graduate Pete Williams, uses a Robert Frost poem to underscore a literal interpretation of the brief: depicting a New Zealand populated by children in order to dramatise the notion of a young country.

Sarah Grohnert’s entry Fish Don’t Speak, Kiwis Don’t Fly tells the twisted little tale of a dying angler who follows a kiwi into the forest, where he is given a challenge by a group of fishy gatekeepers to the afterlife.

Owain Hopkins’ quirky short screenplay To Earn A Crust follows a pair of rock-men from the centre of the Earth who are charged with finding an ideal place for their clan to relocate to.

Lawrence Dean Ifill tells his story 100% New Zealand through music and images, depicting three different journeys that finally intersect.

In The Last Visitor, Aristides Guillen explores the Maori legend of the Maero, feral men who were said to tower over the Maori upon whom they preyed.

Charlie Chin’s script Fellowship of the Ring cheekily pinches the title of the first volume of Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings trilogy, but uses it to describe a more literal journey.

Clinton J. Isle’s script Homecoming is a striking example of how economical thinking can not only keep your entry within the limits of the competition guidelines, but can also focus your story.

The Kiwi & the Balloon by Pete Mether is another script written with achievability in mind, making great use of the available stock footage.

Any of Les Petersen’s 13 entries (and counting!) is well worth a read, but my favourite is Cells, in which a couple are distracted from immersion in their technologically-driven world by the dramatic nature of the scenery around them.

Ryan Rasmussen’s Capturing The Spirit introduces Cornelius Baxter and his photoplasmic encapsulator!

In No Regrets by Michael M. McGuire, an acrophobic American tourist must face his fears.

Fred Neuen’s Spirit Food tells us how the Devil eats his way to loving New Zealand!

In The Window by Chad Simpson, a cubicle worker dreams a better life in NZ – or is it real?

Rajneel Singh’s Blank Spaces asks: how far would you go to claim an uncharted spot on the map?

On The 7th Day by Gary Nicholson reveals how New Zealand got the nickname ‘Godzone’.

With The High Country, Juliet Bergh delivers a romantic high country No.8 wire tale.

In The List by David de Lautour, the spirit of New Zealand helps an old man relive his lost youth.

Capturing the Essence reveals the key to eternal life – and the devastating (and very funny) price at which is comes.

In Old Eyes, Death gives an old man one last look at his beloved.

Aotearoa by Justin Demeere features a really terrific short film pitch.

Take a bite of Mmm … Cake! by David Harris for some culinary surrealism in the back garden.

In Mr Whippy and the BMX Kid, God does a mean bomb.

Check out Forbidden Fruit and find out: can Bill and Jai resist the lure of Bert’s perfect peaches?

The World’s Hardest Job is revealed – can you guess what it is?

In Movie Exec., a Hollywood executive gets ready for his big New Zealand pitch.

Where Dreams Shall Prosper asks: will Calum find the courage to achieve his ambitions?

In Run Rabbit, a small child is lost in the woods – will the magic key help or hinder? And are the native birds what they seem?

Rope features some beautiful images, and asks: what do you do if you lose the sun?

In The Promised Land, a vision of the past comes to life.

Working Day features a smart idea, terrific VFX and imaginative use of the stock footage!

Lastly, the award for the craziest entry I’ve seen yet goes to Early Bird Special “The Musical”

What have your favourite entries been? If you’ve got any you think everyone else should see (and I’m not necessarily talking about your own!), leave a comment below to add it to the list.

– Your Big Break Critic