AngularJS custom filter function

You can use it like this:
http://plnkr.co/edit/vtNjEgmpItqxX5fdwtPi?p=preview

Like you found, filter accepts predicate function which accepts item
by item from the array.
So, you just have to create an predicate function based on the given criteria.

In this example, criteriaMatch is a function which returns a predicate
function which matches the given criteria.

template:

<div ng-repeat="item in items | filter:criteriaMatch(criteria)">
  {{ item }}
</div>

scope:

$scope.criteriaMatch = function( criteria ) {
  return function( item ) {
    return item.name === criteria.name;
  };
};