Essex Film Maker Natalie Scarsbrook celebrates more accolades

October 20, 2025

Local entrepreneur and film maker Natalie Scarsbrook, of Blatella Films, has been awarded a Silver Award at the prestigious Best Businesswomen Awards 2025 in the Best Creative Business category. Natalie is extremely proud of this award, as being a female filmmaker, it feels especially significant as the industry is still very male dominated.

She also won an award at the Canadian film festival Kitchener-Waterloo International Film Festival, last month. Scooping Best LGBT Feature Film as the film’s producer.

The Best Businesswomen Awards were established to recognise and celebrate the achievements of women across all industries. These awards celebrate the achievements of women who are not only building successful businesses but also breaking down barriers, creating impact, and inspiring others to follow.

Natalie began her filmmaking career by co-founding Blatella Films Ltd, based in Southend in 2012. Blatella Films focuses on corporate and commissioned film work, and in 2024, they produced their first feature documentary (Our Journey to Pride) which has, to date, been awarded 26 awards and distinctions across four continents.

Natalie is now working on a new upcoming Feature Documentary called Witchcraft and Stilettos, looking at redefining the term “Essex Girl”! With this new film, Natalie is exploring her interest in feminism and activism through filmmaking. It combines a life-long passion for storytelling and history. The idea for the film came about after meeting with the Essex Girls Liberation Front and author Syd Moore and following their ongoing dictionary definition campaign.

When you hear the phrase ‘Essex Girl’ you may think of the classic 80’s version of her - blonde hair, revealing clothing, and white stilettos. Or perhaps you think of the more modern TOWIE version with the fake tan, coiffed hair, and a penchant for materialistic things. But what if it goes back much further than that, to a time when women were persecuted for being witches? And why did Essex have so many cases of witchcraft?

This is a real definition, featured in the Penguin Dictionary from 2007….

Essex Girl (noun) a young woman from Essex… vulgar, empty headed and promiscuous.

This feature documentary from Blatella Films, will explore the origins of the term, its relevance in today’s society, and the roots of Essex women being labelled as ‘outspoken.’ This topic has recently also been investigated by Essex born Rylan Clark in his Sky History 3-part documentary entitled The Truth behind the Witch Trials – Witches of Essex which aired this week.

Filming for Natalie’s new documentary will be taking place across Essex over the next few months, and Natalie is also chairing a panel at Patch in Chelmsford called ‘The Original Essex Girls: Recalling the Witch Trials in Chelmsford.’ The sold-out event will be held on 29th October.

Natalie and the team would love to hear from anyone who is interested in telling their story:

Have you been labelled an ‘Essex girl,’ with that typical laugh that follows it?

Have you felt the need to hide where you grew up? Your accent?

Do you have a space you’d be happy for us to film interviews in (min. 7ftx7ft)?

Do you have a different idea of how to support this film? Would you like to be involved in its production and/or promotion?

Insta: https://www.instagram.com/witchcraftandstilettos

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Website: http://www.witchcraftandstilettos.com