General News
9 June, 2025
Cinema saved: Locals invest in Mount Isa icon
Mick and Ciemon Scotney are the new owners of Cinema Mount Isa.
Blockbuster movies in Mount Isa are here to stay after the future of the city’s only cinema was secured on Monday.
Long-time locals Mick and Ciemon Scotney are the new owners of the iconic theatre, taking over from the Saunders family, who have run the complex for 27 years.
“I feel really excited, actually,” said Mick, just hours after signing the paperwork.
“There are so many good movies that are coming out soon, and I think there is a bit of buzz and hype around the cinema.”
Ciemon added: “I’m keen for the next six to 12 months to see how it all unfolds and also explore what opportunities there are to improve and make things better.”
The couple, both aged 42, have lived in Mount Isa for their entire lives and said their investment in the cinema should be seen as a vote of confidence in the city.
“There’s a bright future for this place,” Mick said.
“Mount Isa has been through ups and downs but there are plenty of resources left in the ground here, and that means this place is going to continue to boom.
“We might be going through a rough patch at the moment but it’s going to come back stronger than ever.”
Ciemon said they would continue the Saunders’ legacy of being a first-choice employer with the teenagers of Mount Isa.
“The employment opportunities for young people is what I’m super excited about,” she said.
“Being able to teach and mentor them … for some of these kids, it will be their first job.
“Keeping the cinema open is great news for the community because a cinema will help attract people to live here.”
A story about the cinema by North West Weekly, which was heavily circulated on social media, first attracted the Scotneys to take an interest in purchasing the CBD business.
“We read that if they couldn’t sell it, they were closing it,” Mick said.
“Before that, we didn’t actually know it was for sale … we were looking for a good opportunity in Mount Isa, so we thought we’d check it out and have a look.
“There are so many fond memories here. This was the place to be when we were teenagers.
“I think the response from people already has been ‘thank you’ and a lot of appreciation that it’s staying open and in local hands.”
The next few weeks will be a learning experience for the local pair, who have already hired a local manager to take on the operations.
“We’ve already come up with some good ideas and some pretty crazy ones,” said Mick, adding that people have already asked for a gold class section, as well as hot food and drinks in the cinema.
“There are a few ideas being thrown around but you’re also a bit restricted with the movie companies as to what you can show and when.”
Ciemon said the addition of Jorja Bell as manager would tap into a younger audience in the community.
“She’s young and energetic and she’s really excited to be running the cinema in Mount Isa,” she said of the 21-year-old.
Mick added: “Jorja is pretty big on the socials and I think there’s a real opportunity in telling more people about what’s on and what’s happening at the cinema, so that’s pretty exciting.”
Lastly, the Scotneys paid tribute to the Saunders family for their contribution to the Mount Isa community and for being easy to deal with in the sale process.
“They’re fantastic people and they’ve been running the cinema for 27 years and have done a great job,” Mick said.
“They transformed it into a three-cinema complex and have done a whole bunch of stuff to the building and made it look what it is today.
“They’ve invested heavily in this town and it’s a bit of an honour to take over and give it its next lease on life.”