What criteria do films need to meet to be eligible for the IF Awards?
Films must be Australian, in accordance with Screen Australia's definition of an Australian film. They must have been screened at a festival or in cinemas between 17 September 2011 and 14th September 2012. They also must not have been nominated for an IF Award in a previous year. Finally, a film must have completed production within the two years prior to its appearance at an accredited film festival or in theatres.

Music Videos have their own qualifying criteria.
In order for a music video to become eligible, there are a number of criteria that must be met. Firstly, only music videos for songs by Australian artists, where the director of the music video is also Australian, are eligible. Secondly, the song must have been released to the public through a means generally understood to mean 'release' after the 1st of July in the year preceding the close of scoring for the year in question. So, to be eligible for the 2012 IF Awards, the music video must for be for a song released on or after the 1st of July 2011.

Finally, a music video must have been screened at an IF Accredited film festival or on Australian free-to-air or Australian cable television during the scoring year (ie after the 17th of September 2011 and before the close of scoring 14th September 2012 for the 2012 IF Awards.)