The Toronto Film Critics Association has picked Joaquin Phoenix's new drama The Master as the best film of 2012.

The movie has won the Canadian organisation's trophies for best film and best screenplay, while Paul Thomas Anderson was named best director and Philip Seymour Hoffman was hailed as best supporting actor.

The Master saw off competition from French drama Amour, which was named the year's top foreign-language film. Michael Haneke's Amour previously beat The Master to the top prize bestowed by the Los Angeles Film Critics Association.

Denis Lavant won best actor for his role in Holy Motors and Rachel Weisz took best actress for her performance in The Deep Blue Sea, while Gina Gershon was voted best supporting actress for her turn in Killer Joe, and ParaNorman was named 2012's best animated feature.

The prizes will be handed out at a gala in Toronto on 8 January (13).