Add “Variety” to your life when Bette Gordon’s spicy 1984 indie is screened at 5 p.m. next Sunday at Lincoln Center’s Walter Reade Theater.

The adventures of a woman ticket-seller (Sandy McLeod) at a porn movie house was shot at one of the city’s oldest theaters, the Variety, at Third Avenue and 13th Street, although Gordon would have us believe – which we don’t – that the theater is in Times Square.

But don’t let that keep you from “Variety,” part of the series “25 Years of Women Calling the Shots,” a collection of flicks directed by – you guessed it – women.

It kicks off Wednesday and continues through March 26.

Among other entries are Susan Seidelman’s East Village slice of life “Smithereens” (1982), Jennie Livingstone’s drag-queen chronicle “Paris Is Burning” (1990) and “India Cabaret” (1985), Mira Nair’s look at female strippers in a suburb of Bombay.

For the full sked, including details of several panel discussions, check out http://www.filmlinc.com.

* Speaking of female filmmakers, one of the nicest and most talented people we met at the Rotterdam Film Festival was Manhattanite Kimi Takesue.

She was there with “Heaven’s Crossroad,” a beautiful “experimental documentary” about her journey to North Vietnam five years ago, which she directed, produced, shot and edited.

She’s also a brave woman – she spent three months traveling by herself through North Vietnam.

Any problems being a woman alone in a strange land?

“None. But looking back it seems like a crazy and insane thing to do.”

* You don’t generally go to a Fassbinder movie for laughs, but those who venture to Film Forum on Tuesday will get a few chuckles from “Despair” (1979), an English-language film by the German maverick.

It’s the sweetly witty story of one Hermann Hermann (the underrated Dirk Bogarde), owner of a small chocolate factory fallen on hard times, and his macabre plan to escape it all.

“Despair” is part of a Fassbinder retro unfolding at the Forum (Houston Street, west of Sixth Avenue) through March 27. Box office: (212) 727-8110.

* The average moviegoer doesn’t usually get a chance to see Oscar nominees in smaller categories.

So we’re pleased to hear that the Two Boots Pioneer Theater (Avenue A and East Third Street) is unreeling most of the contenders for best animated short and best live-action short.

They’ll be on view Wednesday through April 1. Info: (212) 254-3300.

* Return with us now to the days when silent movies were shown with live music.

It happens next Sunday at 2 p.m., when the Harold Lloyd comedy “Speedy” (1928) – with great shots of old New York and a cameo by Babe Ruth – is projected at the Town Hall (123 W. 43rd St.), with the Alloy Orchestra providing the music.

Afterward, Susan Lloyd will talk about her grandfather.

Info: (212) 997-1003.