Ahmed Best

This Valentine’s Day, immerse yourself in an evening of thought-provoking conversation and imagination with Ahmed Best—award-winning actor, writer, producer, educator, and a true visionary of our shared future. From his groundbreaking role as the world’s first major CGI character actor in Star Wars to his work as a Jedi Master in The Mandalorian, Best has continually redefined the boundaries of performance and technology.

But Best’s impact reaches far beyond the screen. As a pioneer in Afrofuturism and co-creator of AfroRithm Futures Group, he has dedicated his career to exploring the intersections of culture, technology, and collective imagination. Drawing from his remarkable experiences—from the birth of hip-hop to the forefront of the digital entertainment revolution—Best will take us on a journey through the cultural movements that have shaped our present and illuminate how we can craft the future together.

Our evening is hosted by Long Now Board Member Lisa Kay Solomon, a best-selling author, educator, and Futurist in Residence at the Stanford d.school, who will explore with Ahmed the role of optimism, collaboration, and storytelling in shaping the world to come. Together, they will uncover how the joy of creative expression and the power of shared dreaming can inspire new possibilities for humanity.

Join us at Herbst Theater for an extraordinary evening that blends fandom and philosophy, music and story, and discover how the forces that have shaped our past can empower us to imagine—and build—a more vibrant tomorrow.

Whether you’re a Star Wars fan, an Afrofuturist thinker, or simply someone captivated by the art of possibility, this is an evening not to be missed. Celebrate love, culture, and collective vision this Valentine’s Day with The Long Now Foundation.

Reserve your seat now and come feel the future with us.