Sexy Beast, starring Ray Winstone, s set in Spain
The film has been nominated for best film, best director, best screenplay and twice in the best actor category for Ray Winstone and Ben Kingsley
The awards honour the best home-grown film-making talent, including trophies for best film, actor, actress, newcomer and director.
Other nominees for the annual awards, now in their fourth year, include Kate Winslet for Enigma, Samantha Morton for Pandaemonium and Timothy Spall for Lucky Break.
Sexy Beast tells the story of a retired gangster (played by Winstone) pressed into service by various dubious figures from his past, played by Kingsley and Ian McShane.
It was directed by Jonathan Glazer, who is best known for his striking TV advertisements including the Guinness white horse commercial.
Other movies on the shortlist include Bread and Roses, South West Nine and Jump Tomorrow.
Bread and Roses, the story of a janitor's strike in Los Angeles, was Ken Loach's last film.
South West Nine is a high octane romp through Brixton, London from the makers of the hit Human Traffic.
And Jump Tomorrow is a low-budget romantic comedy from first-time director Joel Hopkins.
Forthcoming World War II drama, Enigma, about the intricate work of codebreakers, also received a nomination for director Michael Apted.
The shortlist was drawn up by a jury of 10, made up of key industry players including Primary Colours actor Adrian Lester, High Fidelity director Stephen Frears and the director of the BBC film Last Resort, Pawel Pawilowski.
They will also give out three special jury awards for lifetime achievement, producer of the year and the special jury prize.
A new award category this year is film music, drawing nominations for the soundtracks to the Warrior, Jump Tomorrow, South West Nine and Christie Malry's Own Double Entry.
To be eligible for consideration, films must not be solely funded by a single studio.
They must also be produced, or majority co-produced by a British company, or in receipt of at least 51% of their budget from a British source.
The 2001 award ceremony will be held on 24 October at the Park Lane Hotel, London.