Hi,
I have a Samsung Note3 with the newest Android version and the latest VLC build (from October 16, 2014) from Google Play and I encounter the problem that the m4a-fomrat podcasts that I'm listening to stops whenever the display is locked.
I think this problem was overlooked because it doesn't lock when the file are playing normally. In my case I'm using a Samsung EF-TN900BBEGWW Inductives S-View Case für Samsung Galaxy Note 3 N9005, so every time I close the cover the podcast stops.
It should be a priority nevertheless, because even if doesn't stop if the phone is not locked. (what normaly is the case), it also doesn't turn of the Display. So in the end VLC leaches much more Energy than is necessary.