Wenham, who's agreed to hosting duties at the awards at Luna Park on November 18, was on hand when nominees were announced.

He joined fellow actors Jeremy Sims, Jessica Marais and Ryan Kwanten and was feeling relaxed and only too happy to discuss the latest role which has been keeping him at home and in happy circumstances after the arrival of his baby daughter last year.

Wenham is voicing a character, fluffy owl Digger, in the upcoming Animal Logic flick, The Guardians of Ga'Hoole.

"I've never voiced animation before and I've been working on it for a year," he said.

"Being a parent is the most time-consuming job in the world but people are always telling me that this is the best time when the kids are young and they'll grow up all too quickly," he said of being father to Millie, one next month, and Eliza Jane, 6.

The $100 million Animal Logic flick, which is one year through its three-year production, has plenty of star power with Hugo Weaving and Kwanten also taking up voice-over roles.

Weaving, meanwhile, was nominated for an IF award along with Anthony LaPaglia (Balibo) and Rowan McNamara (Samson & Delilah) for Best Actor for his role in Last Ride.

Other topline nominations went to: Best Feature Film - Balibo, Cedar Boys and Samson & Delilah. For Best Actress - Marissa Gibson (Samson & Delilah), Sasha Horler (My Year Without Sex) and Frances O'Connor (Blessed) are contenders.