MANILA, Philippines?Censors here have belatedly approved a Philippine film honored at the Cannes festival that graphically depicts the rape, murder and dismemberment of a prostitute, officials said Friday.

"Kinatay", which won a Cannes best director award in May for Brillante Mendoza, was given a restricted rating making the film off limits to anyone aged under 18, according to the Philippine movie review board.

The independent filmmaker told Agence France-Presse he was reluctantly forced to seek the board's approval after it prevented a showing of the film at the state-run University of the Philippines.

To his surprise, the board approved the movie without cuts and "Kinatay" -- which means "butchered" -- was given its Philippine premiere at the university late Thursday.

Movie board officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said "Kinatay" could now also be shown in commercial cinemas.

But Mendoza, who prefers the art-house and university circuit, said he is still not going to have the movie distributed commercially.

"I don't think the majority would appreciate this kind of film. By their standards, it's too dark, it's not glossy, it doesn't have famous actors, the camera is a bit jerky," he said.