Women directors have been largely absent from the Best Director conversation in Oscar forecasts, but female filmmakers made a major impression on voters for the 34th annual Film Independent Spirit Awards. Nominations were just announced, and women dominate the Best Director race.

Of five helmers to receive nods, three are women: Tamara Jenkins for fertility dramedy “Private Life,” Debra Granik for father-daughter drama “Leave No Trace,” and Lynne Ramsay for vigilante thriller “You Were Never Really Here.”

The latter two also received nominations in the Best Feature category.

Jenkins, meanwhile, is up for Best Screenplay. Other women in her category include Nicole Holofcener, nominated alongside Jeff Whitty for forgery dramedy “Can You Ever Forgive Me?”, and Rebecca Lenkiewicz, nominated with Richard Glatzer and Wash Westmoreland for biopic “Colette.”

Jennifer Fox’s “The Tale” is up for Best First Feature. The sexual abuse drama stars Laura Dern and is inspired by Fox’s own experiences. Fox is also up for Best First Screenplay, as are Christina Choe (“Nancy”), and Quinn Shephard and Laurie Shephard (“Blame”).

The lone woman in the race for Best Cinematography is Ashley Connor (“Madeline’s Madeline”). The Best Editing category includes two teams with women, “We the Animals” (Keiko Deguchi) and “The Tale” (Anne Fabini).

Two of the six films nominated for Best Documentary are women-helmed: Sandi Tan’s “Shirkers” and Alexandria Bombach’s “On Her Shoulders.”

Up for this year’s Bonnie Award are Granik, Jenkins, and “Destroyer” helmer Karyn Kusama. The honor recognizes a mid-career female director with a $50,000 grant.

Glenn Close (“The Wife”), Regina Hall (“Support the Girls”), and Elsie Fisher (“Eighth Grade”) are among the Best Female Lead Nominees. The Best Supporting Female category includes Regina King (“If Beale Street Could Talk”), Thomasin Harcourt McKenzie (“Leave No Trace”), and Kayli Carter (“Private Life”).

“This year’s nominees reflect the bold originality that is the heart of independent film,” said Film Independent President Josh Welsh. “At a time when huge tent-pole franchises threaten to dominate our film culture, this year’s films and filmmakers offer something completely different — something vital, uncompromising, and needed. The nominees also show that, when it comes to diversity and inclusion, independent film is leading the way for the rest of the industry.”

The Spirit Awards will take place February 29 in Santa Monica.