“GAME of Thrones” is the Emmy Awards frontrunner after winning eight technical achievement awards.

    The HBO fantasy saga was honored at Saturday’s creative arts Emmys, the precursor to the main Sept. 20 ceremony, in categories including special visual effects and casting.

    FX Networks’ “American Horror Story: Freak Show” was next with five awards.

    The creative Emmys also recognized guest actors for drama and comedy series, with trophies going to Reg E. Cathey for “House of Cards,” Margo Martindale for “The Americans,” Joan Cusack for “Shameless” and Bradley Whitford for “Transparent.”

    Whitford’s award, for his portrayal of a cross-dressing character, was among three Emmys for “Transparent” — costumes and main title theme music were the other wins — and the first of the trophies for new-wave TV player Amazon.

    “Transparent” star Jeffrey Tambor is nominated for best comedy series actor at next week’s awards for his performance as transgender Maura Pfefferman. The show is part of the growing attention to gender-identity issues and to such candid individuals as Caitlyn Jenner.

    “I love to be in a show that is a voice of understanding, compassion and radical inclusion. We’re not there yet, but non-judgment day is coming!” Whitford said in accepting his award.

    Other Emmys went to “Bessie,” a biopic about Bessie Smith starring Queen Latifah as the great blues singer, which was honored as best made-for-TV movie.

    “The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst,” about a privileged New Yorker under a cloud of suspicion in connection with three murders, won the best documentary or nonfiction series award.

    A taped version of the creative arts ceremony will be telecast Sept. 19, on the FXX channel. Next week’s ceremony with acting, writing and other awards will air live on Fox with host Andy Samberg.

    HBO won a leading 29 Emmys on Saturday, followed by NBC with 11. Other tallies included FX Networks with eight awards; ABC, Cartoon Network, Comedy Central, Fox and PBS with four each; and Amazon, CBS, Discovery Channel and Netflix with three each.

    A&E Networks received the Governor’s Award in recognition of its corporate social responsibility programs.

    (SD-Agencies)