1977 - Lina Wertmuller (Italy) for Pasqualino Settebellezze
1994 - Jane Campion (New Zealand) for The Piano
2004 - Sofia Coppola for Lost in Translation.
Sofia was the first American woman nominated. None of these women won the award.
I don't know how I feel about that. I could say that it gives me a goal, to be the first female director ever to win an Academy Award for Direction...but that's a lofty goal, and I don't know if I necessarily want that.
But how incredibly sad is that? After 78 years, only three women have been recognized for direction.