The International Feature Conference (IFC) brings together documentary makers from all over Europe and the world to showcase some of the finest radio features and podcasts. The West German Broadcasting Corporation (WDR) is delighted to host the 47th International Feature Conference in Cologne, Germany. The conference will be virtual and takes place from 15 to 18 May 2021.
This year´s IFC will present 21 radio features from 15 countries. The whole spirit of the IFC is about sharing expertise and cross-cultural exchange. So we are looking forward to as much interaction and exchange as possible with participants from around the world.
The power of narrative!
Watch the Opening Ceremony | Sat 7pm CET
In these times where beliefs seem to be more important than facts, and where conspiracies are called theories, the narrative of a story is becoming more and more important.
This year’s theme The Power of Narrativeis an open invitation to discuss the narratives we as journalists disseminate.
Today the question is not only how to narrate a story, but more crucially: What kind of story am I going to tell? Which perspective do I adopt? Am I transparent about my motivation? And which broader ideas do I serve?
There’s plenty to debate in our discussion groups, workshops and lectures.
Meet our guest speakers
Frederik Obermaier
Bastian Obermayer
Kübra
Gümüşay
Jean
Peters
IFC 2021 Schedule
To view the programme audio, click on the red link of that day (not the individual programme names)
| CET | Sat May 15 | Sun May 16 | Mon May 17 | Tue May 18 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3pm | Special More Than One Episode Research for Feature Series with Jasper Corbett – The Grenfell Tower Inquiry (BBC, UK) and Ronan Kelly – GunPlot (RTE, Ireland) | Special Telling stories with immersive sound By Henning Schmitz (Sound engineer and Musician, Germany) | Special Åke Blomström Award With Tim Desmond (chairman) and the winner 2021 | |
| 4pm | Discussion Group Meet the Maker A Group leader: Laurence Grissell (BBC, UK) Corona – Diary of an Acquaintance (ORF, Austria) A Person in a Spacesuit (LRT, Lithuania) B Group leader: Vita Licyte (LRT, Lithuania) Coach and Abuser (NRK, Norway) Fly or Die (Åke Blomström Award winner 2020) C Group leader: Charlotte Rouault (freelancer, France) Offspring behind bars (BR, Germany) Lawless Countryside (SR, Sweden) | Discussion Group Meet the Maker A Group leader: Claudia Gschweitl (ORF, Austria) Anatomy of Fear (Audioteka, Czech Republic) Gardiens de la Paix (ARTE radio, France) B Group leader: Daria Corrias (RAI, Italy) Reading the water (BBC, UK) The Thunderstorm (RTP, Portugal) C Group leader: Agnieszka Czyżewska-Jacquemet (Polskie Radio, Poland) The Little Shop of Secrets (RTE, Ireland) Transit Marseille (DLF Kultur, Germany) | Discussion Group Meet the Maker A Group leader: Willem Davids (freelancer, Netherlands) My friend Zuzka (Czech Radio, Czech Republic) I will tell you about me (Guide Invisibili, Italy) B Group leader: Gabriela Hermer (rbb, Germany) My last wish (ABC, Australia) Beyond all expectations (RAI, Italy) C Group leader: Sarah Blake (RTE, Ireland) Songs of Awakening (Radio Bialystok, Poland)) Nicaragua Libre (SWR, Germany) | |
| 5pm | Plenary Investigative Journalism and Networks With Bastian Obermayer and Frederik Obermaier (Sueddeutsche Zeitung, Germany) | Plenary How Language shapes the Narrative With Kübra Gümüşay (Author, Germany) | Plenary Investigative Interventions: Where Journalism ends and Activism starts With Jean Peters (Tactical Media Artist, Peng! Collective, Germany) | |
| Break | ||||
| 7pm | Opening Ceremony With Edita Kudláčová (EBU Head of Radio), Silvia Lahner (chairwoman EBU Feature Group) and Tom Buhrow (Director General, WDR) Music by zeitblom feat. miako klein Visuals: carolin röckelein & damien daufresne | Listening Theatre Oury Jalloh, Feature series in 5 episodes (WDR, Germany) | Listening Theatre Death Row Book Club (BBC, UK) | Listening Theatre It´s all their fault (RTV, Slovakia) |
Latest news and updates
- Record number of registrations
IFC 2021 will not only be remembered as a virtual IFC, but also as the IFC with the highest number of registrations to date! 270 feature makers … More Record number of registrations - Registration closes on 7th May!
With over 200 registrations for IFC 2021, we are really looking forward to a successful online conference this year.Feature makers from all over Europe to Australia or … More Registration closes on 7th May! - IFC 2021 – News from us with the ScheduleIFC 2021 FLYER (april ’21) The International Feature Conference (IFC) brings together documentary makers from all over Europe and the world to showcase some of the finest … More IFC 2021 – News from us with the Schedule
- Update IFC 2021 – Selected the best 21 Radio Features from 15 countriesThis is no April Fool’s joke. We are busy planning the 47th International Feature Conference and it’s shaping up to be a good one. The IFC will … More Update IFC 2021 – Selected the best 21 Radio Features from 15 countries
- IFC 2021 – Registration is open!If you would like to take part in the International Feature Conference in Cologne from 15. – 18. May 2021, please send an email to IFC2021@wdr.de . … More IFC 2021 – Registration is open!
