MUMBAI: Eric Raddatz has broken up with the Naples International Film Festival.

"He‘s a very talented guy," said Rowan Samuel, co-founder and head of the festival‘s board of directors. "We certainly wish Eric the very best."

Samuel said Raddatz‘s departure wouldn‘t change plans for the festival to return in 2010. Actually, he said he expects more from the fledgling festival.

"We all learned a lot in 2009," he said adding, "We are planning on bringing a bigger, stronger festival to Naples this year."

Said Raddatz: "The festival is still like a child to me. I want it to succeed. But I can‘t support, endorse, or take part in the festival as it moves forward in a direction I don‘t agree with."