Robby Hoffman Clarifies Grant Rules with Humor

Robby Hoffman provided a comedic highlight at the 2026 Independent Spirit Awards by playfully correcting her own statements regarding grant money usage. While presenting awards, Hoffman initially quipped that recipients had complete freedom in how they utilized the grant funds. However, she soon returned to the stage to clarify that this was not entirely accurate for all the grants awarded.

Admitting she hadn't read the full script, Hoffman humorously explained her on-air gaffe was due to falling behind on emails. She assured the audience that any grants she herself had received were spent appropriately for creative endeavors, drawing laughter by listing examples of what she didn't buy, like a new mattress or a lavish meal. She then winked, encouraging discreet spending.

Later, when introducing another award, Hoffman confirmed that this particular grant was indeed unrestricted. She explained that the wording on the grants varied, with some designated for specific projects while others offered full discretion. The ceremony, hosted by Ego Nwodim, streamed live on the Film Independent and IMDb YouTube channels from the Hollywood Palladium.