These 10 women have directed movies we can't wait to see

Progress, however slight, is being made for women behind the camera.

A disheartening study by San Diego State University's Center for the Study of Women in Television and Film revealed last month that only 7% of the 250 highest-grossing films of 2016 had female directors. Despite strides in diversity in last week's Oscar nominations, the best director category is an all-male field for a seventh consecutive year, with the overall representation of women in behind-the-scenes categories down 2%. But there's reason to be hopeful for 2017, with movie website Film School Rejects finding that 66 features with female directors are expected to hit theaters this year (up from 40 the year prior).

We highlight 10 women helming independent comedies, awards hopefuls and studio tentpoles that you should keep an eye on.

Lucia Aniello 

The Upright Citizens Brigade alum, who has cut her teeth writing and directing episodes of Comedy Central's Broad City, takes her talents to the big screen as director/co-writer of Rock That Body (June 16). The raunchy comedy stars Scarlett Johansson, Kate McKinnon and Ilana Glazer as college friends whose bachelorette weekend goes haywire when a male stripper turns up dead.

Niki Caro 

The Whale Rider filmmaker could return with two female-driven movies this year. First up there's World War II drama The Zookeeper's Wife (March 31), with Jessica Chastain as the real-life savior of hundreds of Jews and animals during the Nazi invasion in Poland. Also on the docket is biopic Callas, expected later this year, starring Noomi Rapace as opera singer Maria Callas.

Sneak peek: Jessica Chastain has animal magnetism as 'Zookeeper's Wife'

Sofia Coppola 

Only the third woman in history to be nominated for a best director Oscar, the film auteur behind Lost in Translation and The Virgin Suicides returns with the highly anticipated The Beguiled (June 23). The Civil War romance — a remake of Clint Eastwood's 1971 film, which itself was adapted from Thomas Cullinan’s novel — stars Elle Fanning, Nicole Kidman and Kirsten Dunst.

Gabriela Cowperthwaite 

Four years after her documentary Blackfish spurred SeaWorld to phase out its controversial orca whale shows, Cowperthwaite is making her narrative feature debut with Megan Leavey (in theaters June 9). The true story stars Kate Mara as Leavey, a Marine corporal who completed more than 100 missions and saved many lives in Iraq with her aggressive combat dog, Rex.

Greta Gerwig 

The indie-comedy favorite had her biggest year yet in 2016, with winning turns in four films, including awards contenders Jackie and 20th Century Women. She's now stepping behind the camera for Lady Bird, her solo directorial debut (after co-directing 2008's Nights and Weekends) that's out later this year. Saoirse Ronan stars as a high-school senior in Sacramento alongside Lucas Hedges (Manchester by the Sea) and Laurie Metcalf.

Patty Jenkins

With Wonder Woman (June 2), Jenkins makes history as the first woman to direct a movie with a $100 million budget. Pressure is on for the Gal Gadot-starring superhero movie to help revitalize the DC Cinematic Universe after critical duds Suicide Squad and Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, but trailers have so far lassoed mostly positive reactions from fans online.

Why we need Wonder Woman more than Batman and Superman

Lisa Langseth 

After two films with Oscar winner Alicia Vikander (2010's Pure and 2013's Hotell), the Swedish filmmaker reunites with the Ex Machina actress for her first English-language film. Euphoria, out later this year, stars Vikander and Eva Green as sisters who reconnect after years apart and is the first movie produced by The Danish Girl breakout's Vikarious Productions.

Brie Larson

Larson hasn't taken a breather since winning the best actress Academy Award last year for her heart-rending turn as a kidnapped mother in Room. The future Captain Marvel has found time to star in the upcoming Kong: Skull Island, Basmati Blues and The Glass Castle, and to direct her first feature Unicorn Store, expected later this year, in which she plays a young woman who learns the meaning of growing up.

Dee Rees

Female directors including Marti Noxon (To the Bone), Gillian Robespierre (Landline) and Margaret Betts (Novitiate) made a splash at the just-ended Sundance Film Festival, but none shone brighter than Rees, whose Mudbound sold to Netflix for $12.5 million. If the explosive race drama — her second film after 2011's coming-of-age tale Pariah — becomes an awards-season player, it could make Rees the first black woman nominated for a best director Oscar.

Sundance: 'Mudbound' could bring historic diversity to 2018 Oscar race

Trish Sie 

After Elizabeth Banks stepped down as director of Pitch Perfect 3 (Dec. 22), citing "parental responsibilities," Sie stepped in for the threequel, which brings back original stars Anna Kendrick, Rebel Wilson and Anna Camp. Having previously directed viral music videos for OK Go and 2014 dance movie Step Up: All In, Sie should be an "aca-awesome" fit for the musical comedy.