In september 2009 is het oeuvre van Jos Stelling bekroond met een Life Time Achievement Award to World Cinema tijdens het Georgische Batumi International Art-house Film Festival (BIAFF). Eerder ging deze prijs naar Krzystof Zannusi (2007) en Andrzej Wajda (2008).

Stelling was op uitnodiging aanwezig op het festival (21 - 27 september) als hoofd van de jury. Tijdens deze taak nam hij ook zijn Award in ontvangst. Zijn film Duska (2008) was openingsfilm van het festival dit jaar.

“When we decided to invite him as head of the jury, it was decided also that we will give him the prize - Lifetime Achievement Award to World Cinema. We were very glad that he accepted the offer to head the jury and of course as it was confirmed finally that he was coming, BIAFF management decided to take chance of this opportunity and to award him by this prize.” (Zviad Eliziani, Marketing Manager BIAFF)