German public broadcaster ARD-MDR and the Media Foundation of Leipzig Sparkasse, in partnership with Euroradio, will bring 150 international radio journalists and documentary makers to Leipzig this month to mull over the future of radio programming in the world of new media.

In its 40th year, the International Feature Conference will, from 11 to 15 May, consider the future of radio features. The goal of the conference has not changed in four decades: to enable authors, editors, producers and directors to exchange views and discuss the trends shaping programming throughout the world.

Media industry thought leaders will address the conference, including Mariannick Bellot from French newspaper Libération; Rhian Roberts from the BBC and Francesca Panetta from British daily The Guardian. Ben Fawkes, from SoundCloud, the world’s biggest sound sharing platform, will share insights into how radio producers can exploit the evolution of technology. And photographer Edmond Terakopian will present images and film to stoke a discussion about imagination and reality. Jens Jarisch, from German broadcaster RBB, will present a multimedia project called People of M10.

Focus will be given to radio projects from Australia, Bulgaria, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Sweden, the UK and the USA.

On Sunday 11 May, three young radio documentary makers from Norway, Sweden and the USA will receive the Ake Blomström Award, and on Wednesday 14 May the €10,000 Axel-Eggebrecht Prize will be presented to Paul Kohlm for his lifetime contribution to documentary making.