Rocker and actor Jared Leto can add award-winning documentary maker to his impressive resume after picking up the People's Choice Award at the Toronto International Film Festival in Canada for his film about his band 30 Seconds To Mars.

Leto directed Artifact under the pseudonym Bartholomew Cubbins.

The film chronicles the band's 2008 legal battle with Emi record label bosses, who filed a $30 million (£18.75 million) breach of contract lawsuit against Leto, his brother Shannon and guitarist Tomo Milicevic for failing to deliver the third of five contracted albums.

Ironically the legal rift that ensued inspired the band's third album, This is War, and led to a revamped record deal, which allowed the trio to release the new documentary.

Leto tells RollingStone.com, "It started as a film about the making of an album, and it became a film about the most brutal and challenging conflict of our lives. I hope that artists and audiences watch this film and get a greater understanding of how things work."

Leto's film was named the People's Choice winner on Monday (17Sep12).