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Acclaimed songwriter Daniel Johnston has said a documentary film about his struggle with bipolar disorder “wasn’t really fair," and is planning his own directorial debut.

The Devil and Daniel Johnston was released in 2006 and its maker Jeff Feurzig won the Documentary Directing award at the Sundance Film Festival.

"It wasn’t really fair because it really talked about the worst experiences of my life," Johnston said. "I wish they had included more music instead of making it one of those Stranger Than Fiction shows."

Feurzig's film tells the story of Johnston’s upbringing in rural West Virginia and centres on a manic episode and recording hiatus during the making of his most feted work, 1990.

Johnston's popularity continued to grow at that time in spite of his mental health problems, notably after the late Kurt Cobain was frequently photographed wearing a t-shirt advertising the album Hi, How Are You, designed by Johnston.

In 1993 Johnston signed with Atlantic Records while still resident in a psychiatric unit, although the subsequent album Fun released a year later was a commercial flop and Johnston was dropped from the label.

"There were no regrets, because they paid more," Johnston admitted.

Since Fun, Johnston has recorded six studio albums including Fear Yourself with the late Mark Linkous, and two weeks ago released Beam Me Up, a collaboration with the Dutch orchestra Beam.

"I'll do anything to stay out of hospitals. All I can do is try again."

Daniel Johnston

In the intervening years Johnston has performed in the UK alongside Laura Marling, James Yorkston and Spiritualized's Jason Pierce, and will appear at the Matt Groening-curated ATP Festival in May.

"It's really cool that I’m making a living after all these years. I’m doing a lot better than I’ve ever done."

"I was starving to death working for McDonalds when I first got on MTV."

But Johnston said his big remaining ambition is to make films.

"I'd like to direct my own movies. I'm working on a film of my own and I want to direct it all myself," he said. "[I'm planning] a variety show, with songs, videos and comedy skits all together."

Johnston is also more hopeful than ever that he will be able to manage his illness enough to keep making music and art.

"I'll do anything to stay out of hospitals, I spent five years in mental hospitals. All I can do is try again."