István Szöts (1912–1998) was a Hungarian screenwriter and film director best known for his 1942 film People of the Mountains which won first prize at the Venice Biennale. Szőts became an assistant director in 1940, and in 1942 made his first feature film People of the Mountains. Although widely acclaimed by critics, it was disapproved of by Hungary's ruling wartime government and Szőts had trouble securing backing for his future projects. It wasn't until 1947 that he was able to make his second feature film Song of the Cornfields.