Witherspoon tops Toronto film festival lineup

The upcoming Toronto film festival will showcase a "big year" for Reese Witherspoon, James Gandolfini's final movie and Oscar-bait performances from several major Hollywood stars, organizers said earlier this week.

More than 300 feature films will be screened at the 39th Toronto International Film Festival, which runs from Sept 4 to 14. The event has traditionally been key for Oscar-conscious studios and distributors, attracting hundreds of filmmakers and actors to the red carpet in Canada's largest city.

Last year, Steve McQueen's 12 Years a Slave won the audience prize for best picture, before going on to win three Oscars including the coveted statuette for best picture.