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Ahmet Kural, the leading actor in the original series Gassal produced by Türkiye’s state broadcaster TRT’s digital platform tabii, has been awarded Best Actor in the “Comedy” category at the Italian Global Series Festival. His performance as “Baki” received critical acclaim from both viewers and jury members during the event, which took place across Italy’s Riccione and Rimini regions.
Kural’s portrayal of Baki—a reclusive man who washes the deceased for a living—was celebrated for skillfully combining dark humor with emotional depth. The character's inner transformation following a traumatic accident stood out at the festival, earning him the prestigious Maximo Best Actor Award in the comedy category.
The Maximo Awards are considered the highest honors at the Italian Global Series Festival, which focuses on showcasing emerging television and digital productions. The festival aims to highlight international content and bring together industry professionals from across the world.
In his acceptance speech, Kural pointed to Gassal’s bold approach to a theme often left unspoken. “The series tells a heartfelt story about death—a universal but rarely discussed subject—through a dark comedic lens,” he said, dedicating the award to his family and to all who contributed to the making of the series.
Produced by TRT and streamed on its platform tabii, Gassal follows Baki’s personal journey of isolation, confrontation with the past, and emotional rebirth. The series has quickly built a wide following, drawing praise for its strong narrative and genre-blending style.
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