These are the Oscar nominated films that were directed by women. These directors themselves were not necessarily nominated for Oscars themselves, but their films were.

Special Note: Though City of God was nominated for Best Director, Kátia Lund herself was not nominated despite co-directing it. Instead, it was Fernando Meirelles alone who received the nomination.

Only the following films directed by women were actually nominated for Best Director:
- Seven Beauties: Lina Wertmüller
- The Piano: Jane Campion
- Lost in Translation: Sofia Coppola
- The Hurt Locker: Kathryn Bigelow (w)
- Lady Bird: Greta Gerwig
- Nomadland: Chloe Zhao (w)
- Promising Young Woman: Emerald Fennell
- The Power of the Dog: Jane Campion (w)
- Anatomy of a Fall: Justine Triet
- The Substance: Coralie Fargeat
- Hamnet: Chloe Zhao